The Iranian military Tuesday night launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting what it said were "military and security establishments" in Israel.
Media reports cited a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirming that dozens of missiles had been launched at Israel. The IRGC has also vowed another attack if Israel responds.
In a statement, the IRGC called the missile attack a "response to the assassination of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and IRGC commander Major General Seyyed Abbas Nilforoushan by Israeli forces", according to Tasnim News Agency.
It claimed its air force had struck "crucial bases".
Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that some 180 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel on Tuesday night by Iran.
Israel's military said that its air defenses intercepted "a large number" of the 180 ballistic missiles launched by Iran.
The US also played a part in Israel's defense, detecting the threat from Iran and intercepting some of the missiles, The Times of Israel reported citing IDF sources.
There are "isolated" impacts in central Israel and several more impacts in southern Israel, the IDF said.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the Israeli Air Force "continues to operate at full capacity, and tonight will also continue to strike powerfully in the Middle East, as has been the case for the past year".
"The Israeli and US air defence systems operated effectively. There was close cooperation in detection and interception," he added.
"Iran committed a grave act tonight and pushed the Middle East to an escalation. We will act at the place and time of our choosing, according to the guidance of the political echelon," he was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.
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