Iran launched high-speed missile barrages at Israel on Tuesday night, Tehran’s largest-ever attack on its regional foe. The strikes, which Iran said were aimed at military bases, were largely thwarted by Israel’s aerial defences with support from its global allies, including the US and the UK.
What did Iran fire?
Tehran deployed ballistic missiles, which use trajectories outside or near the limits of Earth’s atmosphere, in the attack. It used similar weapons against Israel earlier this year.
Why did Iran attack?
While details of the timings and nature of the attack were not known in advance, it was not a surprise.
World powers have for months predicted a “regional escalation” from Israel’s war on Gaza, in which it has killed 40,000 Palestinians. That followed an attack by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023 that killed about 1,200 Israelis. Israel is now fighting allegations of genocide at the world’s highest court.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have now expanded the war to Lebanon, which they are bombing heavily.
Lebanon is home to Iran’s key regional ally, Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets into northern Israel in response to the bloodshed in Gaza.
Last week, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkie radios belonging to members of Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon, killing scores and wounding thousands of others, including civilians. On Friday, Israel assassinated the Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah. In July, the Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in the Iranian capital – an attack attributed to Israel.
Israeli attacks have devastated the southern suburbs of Beirut, the capital, as well as villages in the country’s south. At least 1 million people in Lebanon – a fifth of the population – are now displaced.
The US has warned of an escalation but at the same time supported Israel’s attacks both diplomatically – by arguing its case at international institutions such as the UN – and materially, by sending it the bombs and weapons it has used to kill thousands.
What damage did the Iranian missiles cause?
The impact of the damage is being assessed. The IDF said on Wednesday some of its airbases were hit. Images posted by Israelis showed craters in central and southern parts of the country.
No injuries have been reported in Israel, but one person was killed in the occupied West Bank, authorities there said.
Iran said the attack targeted military installations but at least one rocket had hit an Israeli school.
The US president, Joe Biden, described Iran’s attack as “ineffective”.
What will happen now?
Iran said its attacks were over, although it has more missiles ready to be fired if Israel responds.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Tehran had made a “big mistake” and vowed that “it will pay for it”.
