JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran has launched a significant number of missiles into Israel, escalating tensions between the two countries and their allies in the Middle East. The barrage comes in response to recent Israeli attacks on the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The ongoing conflict has prompted fears of a broader regional war.
Israeli air defenses managed to intercept many of the incoming Iranian missiles, but some still landed in central and southern Israel, resulting in light injuries to two individuals. In addition, a Palestinian man was killed in the West Bank by a missile that fell near the town of Jericho.
In retaliation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to respond to Iran’s actions. Iran’s armed forces have also warned of intensified strikes on Israel’s infrastructure in response to any further attacks on their territory.
The conflict has also seen Hezbollah launching rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon, sparking back and forth strikes between the two sides. The escalating situation has raised concerns of a wider war involving Iran and the United States, both of which have significant interests in the region.
Previous clashes between Israel and Iran have been largely indirect, but the current situation presents a more direct confrontation. The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the escalating conflict and its potential impact on the region.
Despite the intense fighting, both Israel and Iran have expressed their readiness to continue their military actions. Iran has justified its missile strikes as retaliation for recent attacks that killed key leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Iranian military.
Amid the increasing tensions, European countries have begun evacuating their diplomats and citizens from Lebanon, adding to the sense of urgency and concern surrounding the conflict. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further escalation if diplomatic efforts fail to quell the violence.