Iran said it fired dozens of missiles into Israel on Tuesday, another sharp escalation of the monthslong conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas.
Israel and the United States have warned there would be severe consequences in the event of an attack on Israel from Iran, which backs the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris monitored the developments in the Middle East from the White House Situation Room.
Here’s what to know:
- Evacuations: The Israeli military on Tuesday warned people to evacuate nearly two dozen Lebanese border communities.
- Iran: The country allied with Hezbollah is preparing to “imminently” launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel, according to a senior U.S. administration official, who warned Tuesday of “severe consequences” should it take place.
- How we got here: The incursion follows weeks of heavy blows by Israel against Hezbollah — including an airstrike that killed the militant leader Hassan Nasrallah, and several of his top commanders.
16 min agoIran-backed Iraqi militias warn US against ‘hostile action’ in support of IsraelBy The Associated PressShare
Iran-backed Iraqi militias say if the U.S. takes part in “any hostile action” against Iran then American interests in the region will be under threat.
The statement Tuesday from the group calling itself the Coordination Committee for the Iraqi Resistance also warned Israel against using Iraqi airspace to retaliate against Iran for a missile barrage fired at Israel, saying “all American bases and interests in Iraq and the region will be our target.”
Iran-backed militias in Iraq regularly target bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria with drones, saying they are retaliating for Washington’s support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.33 min agoPolice say 6 people killed in shooting in Tel AvivBy The Associated PressShare
Israel police say six people have been killed in a shooting in Tel Aviv.
Police say two suspects opened fire Tuesday evening on a boulevard in Jaffa, a mixed Arab-Jewish neighborhood in southern Tel Aviv. The two suspects were killed.
The attack came moments before a massive barrage of rockets from Iran sent people into bomb shelters across Israel, including in Tel Aviv.