NEW YORK: The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today over Middle East situation after Iran launched a large-scale missile attack on Israel.
The meeting was called at the request of France and Israel, just one day after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel in retaliation for the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the recent killings of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.
Iranian officials stated that their missile attack was intended to deter further provocations. Meanwhile, Israel and the United States vowed to retaliate against Iran as concerns about a broader conflict grew, according to reports from Reuters.
The U.S. announced it would work closely with its longtime ally Israel to ensure Tehran faced “severe consequences” for Tuesday’s missile attack, which Israel claimed involved over 180 ballistic missiles.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has scheduled a meeting on the Middle East for Wednesday, and the European Union has called for an immediate truce.
“Our action will cease unless the Israeli government opts for further retaliation. In that case, our response will be stronger and more powerful,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated in a post on social media platform X.
The Israeli military reported that Iran fired over 180 missiles toward Israeli territory on Tuesday following deadly Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) systems identified approximately 180 missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory,” the military confirmed.
Simultaneously, Iran conducted its missile attack on Israel. “A short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel,” the military said in a statement.
Sirens blared across Israel, and explosions were heard in Jerusalem. Iranian state media indicated that the missile attack specifically targeted Tel Aviv, Israel’s economic center.
As sirens echoed throughout the country, explosions were reported in Jerusalem. In response to the threat, Israeli airspace was closed, redirecting all flights as the military prepared for further action.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed the attack was in response to Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week, as well as the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a bombing in Tehran that was widely blamed on Israel.
