Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran after the Islamic republic fired scores of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday as the region slid ever closer towards all-out war.
Speaking after the Israeli military said Tehran had fired about 180 missiles at the country, Netanyahu warned “Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it”.
“Whoever attacks us, we will attack them,” he said.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said most of the Iranian missiles had been intercepted, but added there were “a few hits in the centre and other areas in the south of the country”. He said the military was not aware of any casualties.
A person briefed on the situation said the Iranian barrage had targeted military and intelligence infrastructure near Tel Aviv and other facilities elsewhere in the country.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said in a social media post early on Wednesday morning that Iran’s “action is concluded unless Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful.”
The attack came with little warning and marked a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, which has been intensifying its offensive in Lebanon against Hizbollah, Tehran’s most important proxy.