This story has been updated to add new information.
WASHINGTON – Iran launched a wave of missile attacks on Israel on Tuesday in what it called retaliation for Israel’s killing of several Hezbollah leaders, including Supreme Leader Hassan Nasrallah.
There were no immediate reports of Israeli casualties from the barrage of fire targeting Tel Aviv and other areas in central Israel. One man was reported killed in Jericho, West Bank. Iran fired about 200 missiles, a Pentagon spokesman said.
“Based on what we know at this point, it appears that this attack was defeated and had no effect,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said at the White House.
According to the Pentagon, most of the missiles were intercepted by Israeli air defense forces. Two U.S. Navy destroyers launched approximately 12 interceptors.
Israel and the United States have promised to respond.
“Following the guidance of the political leadership, we will choose when to recoup the price and prove our precision and surprising strike capabilities,” Israeli Maj. Gen. Helj Halevi said in a statement.
The attack comes as the Middle East appears to be on the brink of multi-state war and follows an Israeli ground operation on Tuesday into Lebanon, where the Iranian-backed Hezbollah is based.
The missile barrage is the latest escalation in weeks of skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israel, and comes just days before the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. Hamas is an ally of Hezbollah and also receives support from Iran.
The attack also coincided with the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sunset on Wednesday.
The assault set off sirens throughout Israel. Millions of people went into air raid shelters as the Israeli Defense Forces tried to intercept the missiles.
The White House announced that President Joe Biden has directed the US military to help defend against Israeli attack.
Related: Spy satellite may have detected Iranian preparations for missile attack on Israel
Earlier, White House officials warned Israel that Iran was preparing an “imminent” ballistic missile attack. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said a direct attack on Israel would have “serious consequences for Iran.”
U.S. officials said Israel’s multi-layered air defense system and support from U.S. military systems appear to have intercepted most of the missiles fired by Iran.
Iran claimed, without providing evidence, that most of its missiles hit their targets.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it would launch a more powerful attack if Israel retaliated.
Iran has been threatening to attack Israel since August, when Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated with a bomb hidden in the walls of a government guesthouse in Tehran.
After deadly attacks on several Hezbollah commanders, Israel’s killing of Nasrallah appeared to add new impetus to that threat.
Ahead of the barrage, the US Embassy in Jerusalem instructed US government personnel and their families to “shelter in place until further notice.”
Shortly before the missile launch, multiple people were killed and injured in a shooting incident in Tel Aviv that police said appeared to be terrorism-related. Police said on Tuesday that six people were killed, including the two gunmen, but the death toll was “fluid” and could rise.
Several more people were injured.
Signs of an impending attack by the United States followed Israel’s aggressive airstrikes and covert attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
Early Tuesday morning, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon for the first time since 2006. The Israeli military said it was carrying out “localized and targeted” ground operations against Hezbollah command posts and weapons caches.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israelis to follow the military’s instructions. He said Israel’s restrictions on large gatherings would be tightened.
Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday that Iran launched twice as many ballistic missiles as in the April attack. “Their purpose is to cause destruction.”
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Israel hits Hezbollah with a hammer, killing 1,000 people
On September 27, Israel killed Hezbollah’s longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike.
Over the past two weeks, Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed more than 1,000 people, according to the country’s Health Ministry. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah are at their highest in nearly a year, sparked by an Israeli operation that detonated thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies across Israel.
In April, Iran barraged Israel with more than 300 missiles and drones. Israel, along with the United States and its Western allies, shot down nearly all of them.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei moved to safe location
Iranian Supreme Leader Saeed Ali Khamenei called for five days of mourning for his ally Nasrallah on September 28 and was moved to a safe location, a second US official said.
The official said the Iranian government has used mourning periods in the past to plan operations.
Even as Israel, the United States and other allies prepare for Tuesday’s ballistic missile attack, one official said the Iranian government is choosing to rebuild Hezbollah’s leadership before counterattacking and is unable to respond. He pointed out that it may take more time.
For almost a year, Iranian-backed militants have stepped up rocket fire into northern Israel. Tensions on the border have been high since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people. Israel responded with military attacks on Gaza that have killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
U.S. officials are concerned that escalating tensions could lead to broader regional conflict in the Middle East and are negotiating a ceasefire. The Pentagon is also increasing the U.S. military presence in the region.
Hezbollah is funded by Iran and is part of the Axis of Resistance, a network of groups across the region that are funded and armed by Iran, including the Houthis in Yeman and Hamas in Gaza.