Iran has unleashed over 100 missiles at cities across Israel and at least eight people have been killed and nine wounded in a shooting in the Jaffa area of Tel Aviv.
Air raid sirens sounded nationwide as the missiles rained down on the country, with some being intercepted by Tel Aviv's Iron Dome defense system.
Iran had earlier warned that it would retaliate for Israel’s killing of the Iran-backed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
The shooting rampage and the Iranian attack mark a major escalation in the regional conflict.
Of those injured in the shooting which has since been claimed by the Palestinian Mujahidin Movement, four were said to be in critical condition.
Two suspected terrorists were shot dead by security forces, one further suspect is believed to still be at large.
Iran had earlier warned that it would retaliate for Israel’s killing of the Iran-backed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
The shooting rampage and the Iranian attack mark a major escalation in the regional conflict.
Of those injured in the shooting which has since been claimed by the Palestinian Mujahidin Movement, four were said to be in critical condition.
Two suspected terrorists were shot dead by security forces, one further suspect is believed to still be at large.
Earlier the White House said it had “indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel.”
Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris are monitoring the attacks from the White House situation room, Reuters reported citing a tweet by an NSC spokesperson.
A senior White House official said in a statement: “A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran.”𝐍𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞.
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 1, 2024
This is Israel right now.
RT this so the entire world knows. pic.twitter.com/ok8CxCXxnP
U.S. President Joe Biden has ordered the U.S. military to aid Israel by shooting down Iranian missiles, the National Security Council (NSC) said.A restaurant in Tel Aviv that was hit. This is what ONE of the hundreds of ballistic missiles fired at Israel from Iran can do. One. Imagine hundreds of them hitting. pic.twitter.com/AssKykOECY
— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) October 1, 2024
Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris are monitoring the attacks from the White House situation room, Reuters reported citing a tweet by an NSC spokesperson.
Israel has since threatened retaliation against Iran for what it calls a “serious attack”, with Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari saying that the attack “will have consequences”.
He said: “We are on heightened alert on defense and offense, we will protect the citizens of Israel.
“There was a serious attack on us, and there will be serious consequences. We have plans, and we will act in the time and place that we choose.”
He added that there had been no casualties.
Meanwhile, Israel’s neighbor Jordan has said that its armed forces’ General Command has been put on “high alert to confront any attempts that threaten the security and stability of the kingdom.”
In a statement, Jordan’s military said: “The General Command is closely monitoring the developments occurring in the region and has taken necessary precautionary measures to build and support front-line units on the border fronts to protect the homeland.”
He said: “We are on heightened alert on defense and offense, we will protect the citizens of Israel.
“There was a serious attack on us, and there will be serious consequences. We have plans, and we will act in the time and place that we choose.”
He added that there had been no casualties.
Meanwhile, Israel’s neighbor Jordan has said that its armed forces’ General Command has been put on “high alert to confront any attempts that threaten the security and stability of the kingdom.”
In a statement, Jordan’s military said: “The General Command is closely monitoring the developments occurring in the region and has taken necessary precautionary measures to build and support front-line units on the border fronts to protect the homeland.”
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