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Israeli air defence are intercepting Iranian missiles after Tehran warned it would attack Israel as a response to Israeli strikes on Beirut.
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“A short while ago, sirens were sounded in several areas across the country, following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,” the military said, in a statement.
The army added that sirens were activated in northern Israel. There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage in the attack, the first by Iran on Israel since a ceasefire took effect on April 8. All projectiles were intercepted, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced in a statement to the Iranian media that it fired ballistic missiles at “the Ramat David Airbase, the source of the acts of aggression” against “oppressed civilians” in Lebanon.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced earlier that it was ready to launch an attack on Israel, after Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly authorised the attack in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut, in a statement reported by Iranian state TV.
A commander of Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya said that Israel crossed “all red lines” by attacking Beirut and widening its offensive in southern Lebanon, in a statement reported by Iranian Tasnim agency.
“We had previously warned that if the crime in the suburbs of Beirut spreads, we will attack targets in the occupied territories,” the Iranian military statement said, adding that Israel “must stop its attacks on southern Lebanon and the suburbs, and if it expands its attacks on that region or responds to Iran’s actions, it will face more crushing and regrettable blows and destructive attacks will begin against the regime and its supporters”.
Israel’s minister of National Security Itamar Bengvir tweeted “Tonight Tehran must burn !”
Speaking to Channel 12, US President Donald Trump said he was going to call Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “right now” to urge him not to retaliate against Iran. He added that the US was “very close” to a final agreement with Iran, describing it as a “good deal,” and said he did not want it to collapse because of the current escalation.
