Iran Attacks Israel with Approximately 200 Ballistic Missiles; One Palestinian Worker Killed

Iran targeted Israeli territory with dozens of missiles, an event that has heightened concerns about an all-out war between the two long-time adversaries. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned on Tuesday evening, following the missile attack, that if Israel responds to this attack, another 'crushing and devastating' strike will occur. However, Israeli officials have emphasized that they will respond to this attack. According to a statement from the IRGC, this operation was approved by the Supreme National Security Council and was in response to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the extremist group Hamas, Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and Abbas Nilforushan, the deputy operations commander of the IRGC. It remains unclear what the potential casualties from this attack are and what damages it has caused. Video footage shared on social media shows that several Iranian missiles landed in Israeli territory after passing through Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Palestinian sources reported that as a result of missile debris falling over the Palestinian city of Jericho in the occupied West Bank, one worker was killed and several others were injured. The Israeli army announced that the threat from the Iranian missile fire has 'currently' ended and that citizens can leave shelters. A military spokesperson later stated that this attack was 'serious' and would have 'consequences.' Daniel Hagari said, 'We have raised our defensive and offensive alerts and will defend Israeli citizens. This missile attack will have consequences. We have plans and will act at a time and place of our choosing.' Israeli radio previously reported that the number of missiles launched from Iran to Israel was over 200, but the Jerusalem Post later stated this figure was over 500. However, the Israeli army reported that 181 missiles were fired, while IRGC commander Hossein Salami stated it was around 200. Images shared on social media indicate the confrontation of Israeli air defense systems with Iranian missiles. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that U.S. air defense systems in Syria tracked some Iranian missiles, and Reuters reported the destruction of some Islamic Republic missiles in the skies over Jordan. Meanwhile, Iran's permanent mission to the UN described the missile attack on Israel as a 'logical, rational, and legal response' to Israeli actions. The statement added that if Israel responds to this attack, 'a subsequent and crushing response' from Iran will follow. Reuters cited a senior Iranian official stating that Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, ordered the missile attack on Israel. He added that Iran is prepared for 'any retaliatory action.' Additionally, a 'senior Iranian official' told Reuters that the Supreme Leader has gone to a safe location. This is the second attack by Iran on Israel this solar year. In a direct military attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel on April 16 of this year, at least 313 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and explosive drones were launched, prompting the Biden administration to lead a multinational military coalition to defend Israel, which resulted in the interception and destruction of most of these projectiles. That attack from Tehran was in response to an Israeli bombing attributed to the 'consulate' of Iran in Damascus, which killed Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior Quds Force commander in Lebanon and Syria; Abbas Nilforushan succeeded Zahedi, who was also killed on October 6 in an Israeli attack on Hassan Nasrallah's command post.