Jerusalem/Tehran

Israel has vowed to retaliate after Iran launched several waves of missile attacks at Israel on Tuesday night.

Hours after the Iranian strike, Netanyahu during a Security Cabinet meeting said: "Iran made a big mistake tonight, and it will pay for it."

Earlier, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said: "Iran's attack is a severe and dangerous escalation. There will be consequences... We will respond wherever, whenever and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel."

One of the several videos of Iran's raining missiles on Israel were shared on X:

𝐍𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞.

This is Israel right now.

RT this so the entire world knows. pic.twitter.com/ok8CxCXxnP

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 1, 2024

Israel's rescue services reported that two people in Tel Aviv were lightly injured by shrapnel, noting that a building in the northern part of the city was damaged. There have been no immediate reports of fatalities in Israel yet.

Israel's Airports Authority issued a statement announcing the closure of the country's airspace, with incoming flights being redirected to other countries. Due to security concerns, nearby countries of Jordan and Iraq have also announced the temporary closure of their airspace to flights and suspension of air traffic, Xinhua news agency reported.

At least 200 ground-to-ground missiles were fired from Iran, activating sirens across the country and sending millions of residents running to shelters, Israel's Channel 13 TV news reported.

Large explosions were heard across the country as a result of either the successful interceptions of some Iranian missiles or the landing of some others in Israeli territory after they bypassed Israeli air defenses, the military said.

According to IDF, Israeli air defenses intercepted "a large number" of the ballistic missiles launched by Iran.

The US also participated in the defense of Israel, both by detecting the threat from Iran and intercepting some of the missiles, the IDF said.

Chief of Staff, Major General Herzi Halevi, at the end of the situation assessment said: "We proved our ability to prevent the enemy from achieving, by combining exemplary civil behavior and a very strong air defense system. We will choose when to collect the price, and prove our precise and surprising attack capabilities, in accordance with the guidance of the political echelon.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed that it had targeted Israel with dozens of ballistic missiles, Iranian state-run IRIB TV reported.

The IRGC described the missile strike as "retaliation for the assassination of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and IRGC commander Major General Seyyed Abbas Nilforoushan by Israeli forces", Tasnim News Agency reported.

It said its air force had targeted "important bases".

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that some 180 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel on Tuesday night by Iran.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli air defences intercepted "a large number" of the 180 ballistic missiles launched by Iran.

The IDF said there are "isolated" impacts in central Israel and several more impacts in southern Israel.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters that the Israeli Air Force "continues to operate at full capacity, and tonight will also continue to strike powerfully in the Middle East, as has been the case for the past year".

The Israeli and US air defence systems operated effectively. There was close cooperation in detection and interception," he said.

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It warned that if Israel retaliates by attacking Iran, it will face further "crushing and destructive" attacks.