Iran said early on Wednesday that its missile attack on Israel was over barring further provocation, while Israel and the United States promised to retaliate against Tehran as fears of a wider war intensified.Washington said it would work with longtime ally Israel to make sure Iran faced severe consequences for Tuesdays attack, which Israel said involved more than 180 ballistic missiles.The United Nations Security Council scheduled a meeting about the Middle East for Wednesday, and the European Union called for an immediate ceasefire.Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation.
In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X early on Wednesday.Israel renewed its bombardment early on Wednesday of Beiruts southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Iran-backed armed Hezbollah group, with at least a dozen airstrikes against what it said were targets belonging the group.Large plumes of smoke were seen rising from parts of the suburbs.
Israel issued new evacuation orders for the area, which have largely emptied after days of heavy strikes.Irans biggest attack on IsraelIrans attack marked it biggest ever military blow against Israel.Sirens sounded across the country and explosions rattled Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley as the entire population was told to move into bomb shelters. No injuries were reported in Israel, but one man was killed in the occupied West Bank, authorities there said.Iran described the campaign as defensive and solely aimed at Israeli military facilities.
Irans state news agency said three Israeli military bases had been targeted.Tehran said its assault was a response to Israeli killings of militant leaders and aggression in Lebanon against Hezbollah and in Gaza.Israel activated air defences against Irans bombardment and most missiles were intercepted by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States, Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a video on X, adding: Irans attack is a severe and dangerous escalation.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hit back.Iran made a big mistake tonight - and it will pay for it, he said at the outset of an emergency political security cabinet meeting late on Tuesday, according to a statement.Irans General Staff of the Armed Forces said in a statement carried by state media that any Israeli response would be met with vast destruction of Israeli infrastructure.
It also said it would target regional assets of any Israeli ally that got involved.Fears that Iran and the United States could be drawn into a regional war have risen with Israels growing assault on Lebanon in the past two weeks, including the start of a ground operation there on Monday, and its year-old conflict in the Gaza Strip.Irans forces on Tuesday used hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time, and 90% of its missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, the Revolutionary Guards said.Israels Hagari said central and southern Israel received limited strikes.
A video released by the military showed a school in the central city of Gadera heavily damaged by an Iranian missile.United States Navy warships fired about a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles headed toward Israel, the Pentagon said.
Britain said its forces played a part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, without elaborating.United States President Joe Biden expressed full United States support for Israel and described Irans attack as ineffective.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for United States president, backed Bidens stance and said the United States would not hesitate to defend its interests against Iran.We will act.
Iran will soon feel the consequences of their actions.
The response will be painful, Israels U.N.
Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters.United States does not urge restraintThe White House similarly promised severe consequences for Iran and spokesman Jake Sullivan told a Washington briefing the United States would work with Israel to make that the case.Sullivan did not specify what those consequences might be, but he stopped short of urging restraint by Israel as the United States did in April when Iran carried out a drone and missile attack on Israel.
The Pentagon said Tuesdays airstrikes by Iran were about twice the size of Aprils assault.U.N.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned what he called escalation after escalation, saying: This must stop.
We absolutely need a ceasefire.French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement that he strongly condemns Irans new attacks on Israel, adding that in a sign of its commitment to Israels security it mobilised its military resources in the Middle East on Wednesday.Macron reiterated Frances demand that Hezbollah cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population, but also wished for Lebanons sovereignty and territorial integrity to be reinstated in strict compliance with a United Nations Security Council resolution.EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also called for an immediate regional ceasefire.
The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks ...
spiralling out of control, he posted on X.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with the leaders of Germany and France, and they agreed on a need for restraint from all sides, Downing Street said.Nearly 1,900 people have been killed and more than 9,000 wounded in Lebanon in almost a year of cross-border fighting, most in the past two weeks, according to Lebanese government statistics on Tuesday.Source: Reuters--Agencies