Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel was described as ineffective, with the White House emphasizing the role of the U.S. in helping to repel the assault. Jake Sullivan, U.S. President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor, stated that the attack “appears to have been defeated and ineffective,” following a barrage of missiles fired by Iranian forces targeting military bases near Tel Aviv.
The United States had previously warned of an impending missile strike from Iran, warning of severe consequences. Iranian media released footage showing the missiles being launched, accompanied by triumphant commentary and music, portraying the attack as a bold move by Iran. Celebrations reportedly took place in cities like Mashhad and Tehran, with demonstrators waving Hezbollah flags and showing support for the attack.
This was the second missile strike launched by Iran against Israel, following a similar attack in April, which was in retaliation for an Israeli air strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus. Most of the missiles and drones from that earlier strike were intercepted by Israel and its allies.
A recent Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, alongside General Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander in Iran’s Quds Force. Iran vowed that Nilforoushan’s death would not go unanswered. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of aggression during the UN General Assembly, and hinted that Iran had initially held back retaliation in hopes of a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
Pezeshkian later dismissed U.S. promises of a ceasefire in exchange for Iran’s restraint, stating that allowing Israel to continue unchecked would lead to further violence. Iran remains a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, and while it denied involvement in Hamas’s October 7 attack, it hailed the offensive against Israel, which further escalated tensions across the region, involving Iran-aligned groups from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
