Iran launches major ballistic missile attack on Israel

good evening and welcome it was Iran who struck tonight in the ever spiraling cycle of violence in the Middle East the US says around 200 Iranian ballistic missiles launched from Iran rained down across Israel this evening sending people running for cover just moments after Air Raid Sirens sounded the sky filled with streaks of light incoming missiles many appearing to explode in the air intercepted by Israeli and American defenses Iran launching waves of missiles toward Israel in retaliation for its recent killing of the leader of Hezbollah an Iranian back militia group remarkably Israel says there were

no deaths and few injuries as a result of the missile strikes this evening the attacks not a surprise after us intelligence several hours earlier warned a missile attack by Iran was imminent this evening Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu making clear there will be a response our team witnessed it all from the ground Raph Sanchez leads us off with the latest now from northern Israel it began just after 7:30 local time I can tell you at this moment the skies above us are lighting up what look to us from the grounds like deadly shooting stars Iranian ballistic

missiles slamming down one after another near an Israeli Air Base also seen over Jerusalem's Western wall and across the country Israel says its air defenses taking out most of the incoming missiles we are seeing some of these missiles they are either falling apart a sign that they have been intercepted or they are making their way down towards the ground here in Northern Israel the IDF says around 180 Iranian missiles fired in total in two waves minutes apart we are once again seeing the skies lighting up now traveling the nearly thousand miles from Iran to Israel

in just 11 minutes later like millions of others we took cover when we heard the warning sirens that's the sirens we're going to head to safety President Biden had ordered the US military to assist in defending Israel tonight the Pentagon saying US Navy destroyers fired a dozen interceptors at the incoming missiles obviously this is a significant escalation by Iran a significant event the US condemning the Iranian action saying dozens more ballistic missiles were fired than in Iran's previous attack on Israel back in April this is totally unacceptable and the entire world should condemn it the

IDF tonight saying there are no known fatalities or major injuries in Israel Iran says the attack was a response to Israel's assassination last week of Hezbollah Chief Hassan nasala following nearly a year of Hezbollah rocket attacks on Northern Israel all of it with nerves already frayed here by an earlier mass shooting in Tel Aviv at least six civilians killed when two terrorists open fire fire on the light rail police say while in a late night speech addressing the missile attack prime minister Netanyahu saying Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it

R what have you learned about damage caused by those Iranian missiles Lester Israel says there were a small number of impacts in the South and the center of the country we know one missile came down near a school and several more were aimed at an air base that was damaged in the last Iranian attack back in April Lester all right Raph Sanchez thanks and chief foreign correspondent Richard angle is in southern Lebanon right across the border from Israel Richard you've covered this conflict for a very long time does it feel certain that Israel will retaliate

here oh Israel will absolutely retaliate and prime minister Netanyahu is already giving some hint at what Israel intends to do tonight he listed off the names of several militant leaders who have attacked Israel in the past all nearly all of them subsequently assassinated by Israel so Israel could carry out targeted attacks against Iranian officials believed to be associated with this missile barrage there could be attacks on nuclear sites military facilities how far Israel goes will determine the course of this war in the Middle East Lester all right Richard angle thanks as you heard the US

actively participated in defending against the Iranian strike as the president President and Vice President kept a close watch on the situation here's Peter Alexander President Biden tonight declaring Iran's major assault on Israel a failure the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective the president crediting the US's extensive planning anticipating today's attack and working alongside its close Ally Israel make no mistake the United States is fully fully fully supportive of Israel earlier President Biden with vice president Harris monitoring the attack alongside their National Security team from The Situation Room the White House says Iran did

not give any advanced notice of today's missile barrage that comes is the Biden administration's months-long effort to prevent a larger war in the Middle East is now facing its toughest test yet the president tonight saying it remains to be seen what the consequences for Iran will be the Vice President also condemning the Iranian attack Iran is a destabilizing dangerous force in in the Middle East and today's attack on Israel only further demonstrates that fact still former president Trump campaigning in Wisconsin argues on the administration's watch the world is spiraling out of control they are very

close to Global catastrophe we have a non-existent president and a non-existent vice president who should be in charge but nobody knows what's going on all of it a dire backdrop to tonight's one and only showdown between the two vice presidential picks who have been Fierce critics from afar for months this is not about power it's about governing well Caba day one was 1,400 days ago what the hell have you been doing tonight they'll meet in person for the first time and Peter you're there in the spin room and we're going to be seeing some new

rules at this debate tell us about it yeah ler that's right a couple key differences tonight compared to the last presidential debate there will be no live factchecking by the moderators and both candidates mro phones are going to stay on when it's the other person's turn to speak which is likely to make for some fiery exchanges here this evening Lester okay Peter thanks and you can watch full coverage of tonight's vice presidential debate starting at 8 on NBC and NBC news now thanks for watching stay updated about breaking news and top stories on the NBC

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