Israel/Iran conflict has gone beyond missiles’ interception —BBC

The current conflict between Israel and Iran has been described by experts as scaling beyond a mere interception of missiles, according to BBC News.

Earlier this week, Iran launched almost 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel on the night of Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

The Israeli military disclosed that a small number of the missiles struck central and southern Israel, while most were intercepted.

The strike on Israel was the second of its kind this year; the first occurred in April when Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones.

The recent escalation came hours after Israeli troops began an invasion of southern Lebanon.

The report stated that the goal of the operation was to eliminate in border towns what the military claimed were “Hezbollah terror targets” which threatened people living in northern Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the attack involved more than 180 missiles, which corresponded with Iranian official media estimates indicating that roughly 200 missiles were launched.

“There were a few number of hits in southern Israel and in the center of Israel,” the IDF reported.

The IDF further stated that although no aircraft were harmed in the missile attack, multiple air force bases sustained damages.

The IDF was cited as stating that “only administrative buildings and peripheral components were hit” and that “upcoming missions remain unaffected.”

The IDF reportedly stated that the destruction of property and infrastructure in residential areas was “only minor” and was likely to have been caused by shrapnel from intercepted missiles.

However, the Palestinian Civil Defense authority said that in the West Bank city of Jericho, a Palestinian man was killed when struck by a falling missile fragment.

This Palestinian was identified as a 37-year-old construction worker from Gaza who had been sheltering in Jericho since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.

The IDF claimed that the missiles were intercepted just as 99% of the Iranian projectiles launched in April’s attack.

“Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States intercepted the majority of the incoming missiles,” IDF stated.

The IDF did not specify how many were intercepted, explaining that it wanted to avoid “giving Iran and Hezbollah information that will help them learn lessons”.

Social media videos verified by the BBC showed missiles flying over the densely populated cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel.

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said in her statement that the missile barrage was retaliation for the “violation of Iran’s sovereignty and the martyrdom” of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Iranian officials blamed the killing of Haniyeh by an explosion in Tehran in July on Israel.

In the statement, the barrage was described as having been “in line with the legitimate right of the nation to defend itself”.

It further stated that the attack was a reaction to the Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern neighborhoods.

The IRGC threatened that Iran will respond in a “crushing” manner if Israel tries to retaliate.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, on the other hand, claimed that Iran’s missile attack “failed” and was “thwarted thanks to Israel’s air defense array.”

He said: “Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it.” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also vowed revenge.

Gallant fumed: “Iran has not learned a simple lesson – those who attack the state of Israel pay a heavy price”.

Some analysts suggested that Iran’s nuclear and oil facilities could be targeted.

From international perspective, US President Joe Biden described the missile attack as “defeated and ineffective” and reiterated US support for Israel.

But Biden made plain that he saw any Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites as off bounds.

When asked by reporters if he would back such attack, he replied: “The answer is no.”

Additionally, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin denounced “this outrageous act of aggression by Iran”.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK stood with Israel and acknowledged Israel’s “right to self-defence”.

Japan and France also condemned Iran’s attack, although they urged all sides to refrain from further escalations.

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