Israel threatening retaliation as bombing of Beirut suburbs continues

The US is discussing a joint response to Iran’s missile attack on Israel, warning of “severe consequences” against Tehran.

After Iran’s attack late Tuesday, where most of the missiles fired were intercepted, Israel said it would make Iran “pay” and vowed to strike “the Middle East powerfully”.  Iran then threatened to strike infrastructure across Israel if its territory was attacked.

President Joe Biden said the US is “fully supportive” of Israel  and said that he will discuss a response to the attack with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iran fired around 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, following US warnings of an imminent missile strike from Tehran.

Iranian state media said the missiles fired included hypersonic weapons, which the Revolutionary Guards said targeted three military bases around Tel Aviv and other bases elsewhere.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that Tehran’s attack is over “unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation”.

The Revolutionary Guards said the attack was in response to the killing of Kezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

This was Iran’s second direct attack on Israel, the first taking place in April in response to a deadly Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces said that it is sending more troops to Lebanon in a continuation of its ground invasion along the country’s southern area.

Earlier, Hezbollah said that it repelled an Israeli ground attack in a southern Lebanon border village.