Iran strikes Israel with nearly 200 rockets, tensions escalate
1:28 PM EDT, October 2, 2024
Nearly 200 rockets pierced the sky in Tel Aviv last night as Iran conducted a missile attack on Israeli civilian and military infrastructure. A day later, Iranian politicians met in parliament to chant “Death to America” together.
Tensions in the Middle East are rapidly rising. Iran launched a salvo of rockets at Israel last evening after the Israel Defense Forces killed Hezbollah ally leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut on Saturday.
This morning, Iranian politicians were seen raising their fists in parliament, chanting “Death to America.” Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly also recited verses from the Quran.
The rupture of diplomatic relations between Iran and the USA dates back to 1979, when a group of armed Iranian students held 57 diplomats and citizens hostage at the American embassy for 444 days.
Although tensions between Iran and the USA have always been high, they have reached a climax over the past year and peaked in the past several days.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin condemned Iran's "outrageous act of aggression," while Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that “the consequences will be serious.”
When asked by reporters about the response to Iran's actions, US President Biden stated that it is currently under discussion. He also added that the USA helped Israel repel a massive rocket attack from Iran last evening by launching a dozen intercepting rockets and warned Tehran that America “fully supports Israel.”
Rockets in Israeli skies. Iran strikes back
The missile attack was a response to Israel's killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week and the death of Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh in a bombing in Tehran in July, for which Israel was widely blamed.
Revolutionary Guard Commander, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, threatened to fire “with greater intensity” if Israel keeps its promise of retaliation.
Israel managed to intercept most of the Iranian rockets, which were estimated to be about 180. Israeli medics reported that two people were injured by shrapnel.
Iran made a big mistake today and will pay for it. Whoever attacks us, we attack them – said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In retaliation at dawn on Wednesday, Israel bombed Hezbollah’s Lebanese strongholds, conducting heavy strikes on southern Beirut early Wednesday morning.
Experts believe that the conflict between these two countries will intensify.
