President Joe Biden issued a stern warning to Iran as missiles began raining down on central Israel and told the country he was monitoring events from the White House situation room.
Iran launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday night and caused terror in the streets of Tel Aviv in response to the death of a senior Hezbollah leader and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon.
Rockets lit up the sky and slammed into buildings as air raid sirens rang out across the capital just hours after the White House warned an attack was ‘imminent.’
“The United States stands ready to help Israel defend against the attack, and to protect American personnel in the region,” Biden said in a post on X when the attack began.
The president was not specific about how the US and its key allies would respond. He said this morning he and Vice President Kamala Harris convened a national security team ‘to discuss Iran’s plans to launch a near-missile attack on Israel.’
The White House said Biden and Harris were monitoring events from the Situation Room and ‘received regular updates from the national security team. President Biden directed the US military to help defend Israel against Iranian attacks and fire missiles aimed at Israel. ‘
The US has taken steps to that end, deploying US air and sea power, as well as strengthening and replenishing Isreal’s missile defense system.
The US update came as live footage aired from Israel’s proud Iron Dome took down several incoming rockets and sent burning fragments to the ground as Americans were urged to take cover in bomb shelters.
At one point shortly before 8pm local time in Tel Aviv, the incoming missile fire was so voluminous and close that CNN’s Jim Sciutto had to quickly leave the Tel Aviv rooftop he was using as a broadcast location.
It is unclear exactly what was hit and what impact it had on the ground.
Projectile intercepted by Israel over Tel Aviv
“The United States stands ready to help Israel defend against the attack, and to protect American personnel in the region,” Biden said in a post on X when the attack began.
The event drew Biden’s attention to the Middle East, a day after he commented on Israel’s plans for a ‘limited’ invasion of Lebanon.
Asked Monday if he was ‘comfortable’ with what he called a limited invasion, Biden replied: ‘I know better than you know, and I’m comfortable with him stopping. We need a truce now.’
The White House then underlined Israel’s right to defend itself.
‘What we have said consistently is that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hezbollah. We do not cry because of terrorists,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. ‘We have been very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself,’ she said, calling support ‘ironclad.’
At the same time, policy makers are keen to avoid escalating regional wars. Iran’s mission to the UN called the missile attack ‘legitimate’ and ‘legitimate’ and warned it would return if Israel responded.
‘If the Zionist regime dares to respond or commit another evil act, a further and devastating response will follow. Regional countries and Zionist supporters are urged to separate from the regime,’ wrote the Iranian mission.
Israel warns of unknown ‘consequences’ for attacks on homeland.
“We are vigilant in defense and attack, we will protect Israeli citizens. This (missile) fire will have consequences. We have a plan, and we will act at the time and place we choose,” said Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari .
Amid relentless attacks from Iran, Israeli police said gunmen opened fire in Tel Aviv on the border with Jaffa, killing four and wounding seven, according to Israeli police.
TV footage showed gunmen descending on the train station and opening fire. Israeli media reported at least four people were seriously injured.
Rockets fly in the sky above Tel Aviv
Projectile intercepted by Israel over Tel Aviv
Earlier on Tuesday, the US Embassy in Israel told employees to return home and prepare to enter bomb shelters as the White House warned of a ballistic missile attack from Iran.
The warning came with the Middle East on the brink of all-out war and a day after Israeli forces launched a ground invasion in southern Lebanon aimed at crippling the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.
The first missile was fired around 12:30 a.m. ET, according to reports from Israel. The US warning had come about five hours earlier.
President Joe Biden held a meeting of the national security council, including Vice President Harris, shortly before the attack began.
“He reviewed the status of US preparations to help Israel counter the attack and protect US personnel in the region,” the White House said.
The White House has warned any attack would have ‘severe consequences.’
“The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel,” a senior official told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.
“We are actively supporting defense preparations to defend Israel from this attack. A direct military attack by Iran against Israel will bring severe consequences for Iran.’
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the ‘imminent’ threat with US defense secretary Lloyd Austin.
The attack could surpass the scale of the previous bombardment in April that saw hundreds of drones and missiles launched into the country.
Western sources told Axios that unlike the April attack, this time Iran is expected to launch a ballistic missile that can reach Israel within 12 minutes and not with drones or cruise missiles that allow for longer preparation time for defense and interception.
The Pentagon said on Monday that the United States is sending several thousand additional troops to the Middle East to supplement the 40,000 already in the region and help defend Israel.
Men hold children as people cover air raid sirens
People hide behind vehicles parked on the side of a highway in Tel Aviv
People fled when the air raid siren sounded
The US Embassy has warned its staff in Israel to prepare to go to bomb shelters amid reports Iran is planning an ‘imminent’ ballistic missile attack. The image shows an Iranian rocket launched during a drill earlier this year
Squadrons of US fighter jets are being deployed, including F-15Es and F-16s – jets that played a key role in shooting down Iranian drones when Tehran launched missile and drone strikes on Israel in April.
F-22 jets and A-10 fighter jets were also sent, while the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was positioned in the Gulf of Oman, with the USS Harry S Truman en route as part of a scheduled deployment.
The order from the US Embassy, the first order in months, shows the gravity of the situation.
Three Israeli officials told The New York Times the attack would involve unmanned drones and missiles fired into Israel.
The warning from the US came at Israeli noon, which was 5 a.m. ET, an Israeli official told Axios.
The attack raises the possibility of all-out war between the two bitter enemies, who have been fighting a shadow war for years as Tehran seeks to destroy Israel and Israel tries to rein in Iran’s nuclear program.
Smoke rises from a building after an Israeli military attack, on the southern outskirts of Beirut. Israel launched a ground invasion in southern Lebanon on Tuesday
When Iran launched a direct attack on Israel in April, several missiles hit their targets. Many were shot down by the US-led coalition, while others failed to launch or crashed in flight.
Israel’s attacks on Lebanon escalated as they appointed top Hezbollah leaders.
In the past year, Hezbollah has attacked Israel in solidarity with Hamas, an armed group based in Gaza also supported by Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Tuesday that Israel faces a ‘huge challenge’ as it fights Iran’s axis.
In his videotaped statement, he urged the public to heed the public safety guidelines of the Army Home Command. He did not immediately mention the missile threat.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced that Israeli officials had received intelligence updates from Washington but that no air threat from Iran had been detected.
He said Israel and its allies were on ‘high alert’ and any attack from Iran would have consequences, while the US Embassy in Jerusalem ordered its employees and their families to ‘shelter in place’.
A major attack by Iran on Israel could trigger an all-out war in the Middle East, with experts warning any such escalation is likely to see the US come to Israel’s defense.
Rescue workers in Beirut drive through the rubble of buildings damaged by Israeli airstrikes
Israeli soldiers in APCs are moving in northern Israel near the Israel-Lebanon border
A view of damaged buildings after Israeli attacks in the neighborhoods of Laylaki and Haret Hireyk in the Dahieh area of Beirut, Lebanon
Fears of an Iranian attack grew as the Israeli military warned residents of more than two dozen Lebanese border communities to evacuate their homes immediately after announcing the start of a ground operation against Hezbollah last night.
IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee told Lebanese citizens to flee north of the Awali River, about 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border, raising fears that the IDF may want to send troops into southern Lebanon or increase the intensity of its airstrikes.
‘You must go north of Kali Awali to save yourself and leave your home immediately,’ the statement said.
