Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel in retaliation for the recent associations carried out by the country and following the ground invasion in Lebanon.

Israeli officials claim approximately 200 missiles were fired, with several striking Israeli cities. Iran said the targets were military.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran said they fired “tens” of missiles at Israel, citing retaliation for the killings of Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah, IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Beirut, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.

Footage shows Tel Aviv’s skies filled with rocket fire, with some missiles seemingly evading Israel’s Iron Dome system and making direct hits on targets.

A high-ranking Iranian official told Reuters that the US was notified about the missile response via diplomatic channels just before the attack.

The Iranian mission at the UN described the action as a “legal, rational and legitimate response to the terrorist attacks of the Zionist regime.”

In its statement, IRGC cautioned against further Israeli action, threatening “crushing responses” if Israel were to strike.

“We attacked the heart of occupied lands. If the Zionist regime tries to respond to the Iranian operation, it will face crushing responses,” the IRGC said.

Israel threatens Iran

Analysts suggest Iran’s aggressive response stems from the view from the leadership that they made a strategic mistake in showing restraint and not responding to Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran last July.

They believe it inadvertently encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue further assassinations of Iran-backed figures.

The Israeli military, through spokesperson Daniel Hagari, warned that Israel will respond.

“We are on high alert both defensively and offensively,” Hagari said in a television broadcast on Tuesday.

“We will defend the citizens of the state of Israel. This attack will have consequences. We have plans, and we will operate at the place, and time, we decide.”

Iran’s move comes after Israel launched an invasion of southern Lebanon late on Monday, accompanied by a series of air strikes targeting Beirut and other densely populated regions.

The Israeli army described their operations as localised raids near the border, targeting specific villages.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, Tuesday’s Israeli attacks resulted in 55 deaths and 156 injuries across Lebanon.

Over 1,000 have been killed in Lebanon by Israel in the past two weeks alone. The humanitarian crisis is further exacerbated by the displacement of nearly a million people.