The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) has said it carried out an attack on Israel – and has warned the state “will face crushing attacks” if it retaliates.
As the fighting between the country and Hamas and Hezbollah escalated, threatening a wider regional conflict, Iran launched dozens of missiles at Israel on Tuesday.
Israel ordered residents to remain close to bomb shelters as air raid sirens sounded across the country. And now IGRC has made a chilling threat to Israel, demanding it to refrain from responding to the Iranian operation – or it’ll “face crushing attacks”.
The Mirror reports a series of window-shaking explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and near Jerusalem, though it was not immediately clear whether the sounds were from missiles landing or being intercepted by Israeli defences, or both.
Israel and the United States have warned there would be severe consequences in the event of an attack on Israel from Iran, which backs the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Addressing his citizens, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Citizens of Israel, we are in the midst of a campaign against Iran’s axis of evil.Together we will fight and together we will win.”
Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the country’s air defence system was fully operational, detecting and intercepting threats. “However, the defence is not hermetic,” he said.
Orders to shelter in place were sent to Israelis’ mobile phones and announced on national television. Iran took responsibility for launching dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel.
The claim was made in a statement read aloud on state television as explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. In its statement, Iran referenced Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen.
Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut. It also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader in Hamas who was assassinated in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July.
It warned this attack represented only a “first wave,” without elaborating. A senior White House official warned of “severe consequences” should Iran launch a ballistic missile against Israel.
US ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of Middle East tensions. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.
Hagari also warned of consequences if Iran fired missiles into Israel. He urged the public to stay close to sheltered areas. “The Iranian strike could be widespread,” he said.
Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel in April, but few of its projectiles reached their targets. Many were shot down by a US-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed in flight.
While Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, the Israeli army announced it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year.
Israel released video footage purporting to show its soldiers operating in homes and tunnels where Hezbollah kept weapons. If true, it would be another humiliating blow for Iran-backed Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the Middle East.
Hezbollah has been reeling from weeks of targeted strikes that killed its leader, israel Hassan Nasrallah, and several of his top commanders.
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