Iran has fired missiles at Israel and all civilians in the country are in bomb shelters, the Israeli military said on Tuesday. The attack comes amid Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon to target Hezbollah and days after the militant outfit’s commander Hassan Nasrallah and a top official from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in Israel strikes in Beirut.
The Israeli foreign ministry also cited the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and said at 10.08 pm IST that the missiles were fired a “short while ago”. Confirming the attack, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it was in response to the killing of Nasrallah, Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and its own senior commander Abbas Nilforoushan. Reuters quoted Israeli media as saying that as many as 100 missiles had been launched.
Videos showed debris from missiles intercepted by Israel’s famed Iron Dome and Arrow defence systems raining down on Tel Aviv. The Israeli defence forces also confirmed that blasts had been heard in “Jerusalem and elsewhere”. There have been no reports of any casualties so far.
“Iran’s attack is continuing. You are requested to remain in a protected space until further notice. The explosions you are hearing are from interceptions or fallen projectiles,” the army said in a statement to Israelis, a report by news agency AFP said.
All Israeli civilians are in bomb shelters as rockets from Iran are fired at Israel. pic.twitter.com/bKXPdqMsBr
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 1, 2024
“A short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel. Israelis are instructed to remain alert and precisely follow the Home Front Command’s instructions,” the Israeli foreign ministry’s handle said in a post on X.
“In the last few minutes, the Home Front Command has distributed life-saving instructions in various areas across the country. The IDF is doing and will do everything necessary to protect the civilians of the State of Israel,” it said.
The news of the missiles being launched came shortly after reports of a suspected “terror” shooting in Israel’s commercial capital Tel Aviv. Police in the city said at least four people were killed.