What we know about Iran's missile attack on Israel

Matt Murphy
BBC News
Reporting from
London

Iran has launched hundreds of missiles towards Israel, with at least some striking Israeli territory. It is the second attack by Iran this year, after it fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel in April.

Israeli army officials said the attacks appear to be over and that there is no more threat from Iran "for now". But it is not yet clear how much damage has been caused.

Here's what we know so far.

What was the scale of Iran's attack?

Iran launched around 180 missiles towards Israel, the Israeli military said. That would make it a slightly larger attack than April's barrage, which saw about 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles fired towards Israel.

Footage carried by Israeli TV appeared to show some missiles flying over the Tel Aviv area shortly before 19:45 local time (17:45 BST).

Military officials have confirmed that some hits were recorded during the attack. A military spokesperson said Israel recorded "a few hits in the centre and other areas in the south of the country".

The IRGC said its forces used hypersonic missiles for the first time and claimed that 90% of projectiles hit their targets. IRGC sources told state media in Tehran that it had targeted three Israeli military bases in the attack.

But the Israeli military emphasised that "a large number" of the missiles fired by Iran were intercepted. Flashes in the sky above Tel Aviv appeared to show air defences intercepting some incoming fire.

In Jerusalem, BBC reporters on the ground said they heard at least two interceptions.

Israeli medics said they had yet to receive reports of any serious injuries, though two people were slightly wounded by shrapnel. The military issued a similar message.

Why has Iran attacked Israel?

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that the attacks were in response to Israel's killing of a top IRGC commander and leaders of Iran-backed militias in the region.

It mentioned the killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoshan in Beirut last weekend.

It also referenced the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. While Israel has not admitted to being behind Haniyeh's death, it is widely believed to be responsible.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had personally given the order to attack.

The attacks are merely the latest escalation in a long-running shadow war between the two powers. Iran does not recognise Israel's right to exist and seeks its eradication. It has spent years backing paramilitary organisations opposed to Israel as part of its Axis of Resistance.

Israel believes that Iran poses an existential threat and has spent years running covert operations against Tehran.

Were the missiles stopped by Iron Dome?

Israel has a sophisticated system of air defences, the most well known of which is the Iron Dome. It is designed to intercept short-range rockets of the sort fired by Hamas and Hezbollah.

While it was used to defend against some elements of Iran's last attack in April, other elements of the country's "layered" defence systems likely did the bulk of the work on Tuesday.

David’s Sling - a joint US-Israeli manufactured system - is used to intercept medium to long-range rockets, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles. And when it comes to long-range ballistic missiles, which fly outside the earth’s atmosphere, Israel has the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors.

How have Israel's allies reacted?

The White House said President Joe Biden had ordered US forces in the region to "aid Israel's defence" and shoot down Iranian missiles.

A Pentagon spokesperson said US Navy destroyers had fired about a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles headed to Israel.

The BBC has also verified footage showing missile interceptions over the Jordanian capital of Amman. The country also shot down a number of missiles during Iran's last attack in April.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack "in the strongest terms" during a call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.

Speaking in Downing Street, he said: "We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self defence in the face of this aggression. Iran must stop these attacks together with its proxies like Hezbollah."

UK Defence Secretary John Healey indicated British forces "played their part" in "attempts to prevent further escalation", without specifying the extent of Britain's military involvement.

What happens next?

Israel has warned of severe repercussions following the attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Iran has "made a big mistake tonight, and will pay for it".

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Haggari said the attack had been "serious" and that the country remained on high alert.

"This attack will have consequences," Rear Adm Haggari said. "We have plans, and we will operate at the place and time we decide.”

Earlier, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said there would be "severe consequences" for Iran if it carried out an attack on Israel following a conversation with the country's defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

In its statement, the IRGC said that Tehran's response would be "more crushing and ruinous" if Israel retaliated.

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