Tensions and rhetoric remained intense in the Middle East on Wednesday, a day after Iran fired over 180 missiles at Israel amid a widening regional conflict that began with Hamas' terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Reuters reported that Israel was reinforcing its military presence in Lebanon as part of its onslaught against the Hezbollah, as its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would pay for its strike on the country.
Iran's missile strikes, meant to avenge the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders by Israel, reportedly killed one person in the occupied West Bank, with no casualties reported from Israel. Videos shared on social media showed streaks of fire across the skies in Israel, including in Tel Aviv. Iran said 90% of its missiles had struck their targets, while Israel claimed to have intercepted the majority in a joint effort with allies, including the US. The Iranian foreign minister said in a post on X early Wednesday morning that its action against Israel "is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation". "In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful," Seyed Abbas Araghchi said.
According to a BBC report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the “broadening conflict in the Middle East”, adding: “This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.”
Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Continues
Israel on Wednesday said it is beefing up its presence in south Lebanon, Reuters reported. The Israeli military's regular infantry and armoured units will join ground operations in southern Lebanon, stepping up pressure on Hezbollah, the report said.
This new addition is mainly for ground operations aimed at destroying tunnels and other infrastructure on the border, the Israeli military said, adding that there were no plans for a wider operation targeting Beirut or major cities in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's Hezbollah targeted areas north of Israel's city of Haifa with a large missile salvo, the militant group said on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters. Israel had earlier renewed its bombardment of Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Iran-backed group, with at least a dozen airstrikes against what it said were targets belonging to the group.
Iranian Attack On Israel
On Tuesday night, Israel said more than 180 missiles were launched at it from Iran, adding that Israeli air defences were activated to intercept them, as per Reuters.
As per the report by Reuters, no injuries were reported in Israel. The US and the European Union condemned Iran's attack, while the UN Security Council scheduled a meeting on the Middle East for Wednesday.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the assault was in response to Israel's aggression in Lebanon and Gaza, and the recent killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan, and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in July.
The Iranian foreign minister said Iran's action against Israel came after exercising tremendous restraint to give space for a ceasefire in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden expressed full US support for Israel and described Iran's attack as "ineffective". He said there was an active discussion about how Israel would respond, and he would speak with Netanyahu, as per Reuters. At a security cabinet meeting, Israel PM Netanyahu said Iran had made a big mistake and would pay for it.