Israel says it was attacked by missiles from Iran

The Israeli Army said on October 1st that Iran had launched missiles in Israel and that the target of the missiles issued by Iran is about ten million civilians in different areas of the country.

Authorities in Israel also reported that alarm sirens were issued throughout Israel and that residents have been instructed to seek safe housing.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the missile attack on Israel was in response to the assassination of Hezbollah's leader, Hasan Nasrallah, last week, as well as the leader of Hamas.

Iran had promised it would avenge Israeli air strikes in recent weeks that killed Hezbollah's top leadership in Lebanon, the militant group that has been named a terrorist organisation by the United States.

The European Union has put Hezbollah's armed arm on the blacklist, but not its political party, which has seats in the Lebanese parliament. While the Palestinian group Hamas has been declared a terrorist organisation by both the US and the EU.

Following the attacks, Israel and Jordan announced that they have temporarily closed air spaces.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli Army said it had launched “targeted and precise <x4x1> within Lebanon in what it called a limited “Earth-enerception that started at night, adding that its troops were involved in “severe fighting” with Hezbollah.

US President Joe Biden said the United States is prepared to help Israel defend against Iran's missile attacks and protect American military personnel in the region.

He issued this statement on the X platform, following a meeting he held with Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House national security team.

Earlier, a senior US administration official had warned that Iran is preparing to launch an immediate “ ” attack with ballistic missiles against Israel, adding that there would be “severe consequences” if that happens.

The American official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the United States is actively supporting Israel's defence preparations. US ships and planes have been deployed in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack.

Following warnings of such an attack, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had a conversation with his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin.

The minister and secretary discussed Israel's operational readiness to protect citizens and military assets, as well as the position of American forces in the region”, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel in April of this year, but few of the missiles achieved their goals. Most were ousted by a US-led coalition, while others appeared to have failed during the launch or crashed during the flight.

This development comes after the Israeli Army on October 1st warned people to evacuate dozens of settlements on the border with Lebanon, hours after it announced they were conducting limited land operations” against Hezbollah.

Israel added that its troops were involved in “tough fight” with Hezbollah in a step that came in spite of US objections, amid fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Hezbollah said he had reacted to the Israeli offensive by unleashing a hail of rockets towards Israel, including one towards his intelligence agency near Tel Aviv.

Israel has promised to continue putting pressure on Hezbollah and has declared military areas in some parts of its northern border with Lebanon, despite calls from around the world to reduce tensions.

During the day, the Israeli Army announced that it was mobilizing four additional brigades to deploy on missions along the northern border, but without providing more details.

This will enable continued operational activity against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation and achieving operational targets, including the safe return of residents of northern Israel to their homes”, the Israeli Army said in a statement.

On September 25th, the army had mobilized two reserve brigades to be sent north.

An Israeli infantry brigade usually consists of 1,000 to 2,000 soldiers, while an armored tank brigade has about 100 tanks.

Israel began ground operation despite opposition United States in the midst of fear that such an action would bring events in the Middle East out of control.

Despite calls from around the world for lowering tensions, Israel has pledged to maintain pressure on Hezbollah and have declared a military zone in some parts of its northern border with Lebanon.

“In line with the political leadership decision, several hours ago Israeli Defence Forces launched limited, localised and targeted land raids based on precise information against Hezbollah's terrorist targets and infrastructure south of Lebanon”, the Israeli Army said in a statement published in late hours of September 30th.

These boundaries are found in villages near the border and pose a threat to Israeli communities north of Israel”.

In recent weeks, Israel has carried out intensive air attacks on Hezbollah, including missile attacks that have killed the group's imminent leader, Hasan Nasrallah, but have also claimed the lives of many of Hezbollah's leaders and other members of militant sanctioned groups.

Senior Hezbollah officials have said in recent days that the group's fighters are “ready if Israel decides to go through land”.

The launch of the ground operation came hours after US President Joe Biden was asked if Israel would take such an action in Lebanon, he said: “I am calm if they stop. We need a truce now”

After increasing tensions the White House said Washington believes the only way to have a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is through a diplomatic solution.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking in Beirut on September 30th, also urged Israel to refrain from any earthly incubation “and reach a ceasefire agreement. He also urged Hezbollah to do the same and refrain from any action that would likely lead to regional instability”.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Yemen against the Huth rebels, which are backed by Iran, and Hezbollah claims and fired on Israel the new <x0-> Nour” which, according to observers, may be a ballistic missile, increased fears that there may be a full-scale war in the Middle East.

In the late hours of September 30th, Israeli air strikes hit the suburbs south of Beirut, causing major explosions after the Israeli army warned civilians to leave three specific buildings that he said would be targeted. These buildings were located in densely populated neighborhoods.

Divides, Iran has declared that he shall not divide his strength in Lebanon, or in the Belt of Gaza, to fight against Israel at the time of intensification of the attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

There is no need for sending additional volunteer forces to Iran's Islamic Republic”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Canan said on September 30th. He added that Lebanon and the fighters in Palestinian territories “have sufficient capacity and strength to defend themselves against aggression”.

Canan's statement came after Naim Qasssem, the deputy head of Hezbollah, said through a video message that “very soon” will be found a substitute for Nasrah.

In the message, he said the selection would be made according to Hezbollah's regular procedures, giving no more details.

Nasrallah was killed last week during an Israeli air strike at Hezbollah's southern command centre.

The Israeli Army has also expanded its attacks against militant groups backed by Iran, attacking the port city of Hodeida in Yemen, which is under the control of the Huth rebels, and at the same time intensified air strikes south of Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.

The losses experienced by Hezbollah seem to be the greatest since Lebanon's Islamic Revolutionary Guard helped create this militant group in 1982 in order to combat an Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

Nasrallah had joined Hezbollah in fighting that conflict, and in 1992 he had become his leader, making the group the most powerful military and political force in Lebanon. / REL