Israel-Iran live updates: Tehran fires 180 ballistic missiles on Israel

Israel has vowed revenge after Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles across the country in a major escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

A salvo of around 200 ballistic missiles were fired by Tehran less than 24 hours after the Israeli military launched a ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Millions of people rushed into shelters while outside hundreds of flashes could be seen over the cities of Tel Aviv, Ashdod and Jerusalem as the Iron Dome system intercepted most of the rockets.

Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz, the US vice presidential candidates, were asked about the escalating conflict in the Middle East during the early moments of Tuesday night’s debate.

The candidates were specifically asked if they would support Israel in a pre-emptive strike against Iran, though neither answered the question directly.

Walz, the Democratic candidate, said the “expansion of Israel and its proxies is an absolute fundamental necessity for the United States to have the steady leadership there.”

Based on the context of his sentence, it appears Walz mistakenly said “Isreal” when he meant “Iran.”

Vance also dodged the question, suggesting that Iran was on the brink of obtaining a nuclear weapon and insinuated that somehow Vice President Kamala Harris could have prevented that from happening.

“Who has been the vice-president for the last three and a half years?” Vance said. “The answer is your running mate, not mine.”

Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain stands with Israel and supports the “reasonable demand for the security of its people” after an attack on the country by Iran.

In a statement from Downing Street on Tuesday evening, the prime minister said Tehran has “menaced the Middle East for far too long” and called on the country to “stop these attacks”.

“We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression,” he said.

A Jordanian official said that parts of an Iranian missile fell in its territory on Tuesday after Tehran lauched a strike at Israel.

Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani told state-run media outlet Al-Mamlaka TV that the missile debris injured three people.

Jordan, located between Iran and Israel, is a US ally and has a peace treaty with Israel. Jordanian Air Force units assisted in the interception of Iran’s missiles, according to a Jordanian official. Al-Momani said the nation “won’t be a place for anyone’s conflict” and that its citizens would also be the first priority of the Jordanian government.

Iran’s UN ambassador in New York has claimed Tehran’s missile strike against Israel on Tuesday was an act of self-defense.

Amir Saied Iravani, Iran’s UN ambassador, provided letters to the UN Security Council claiming the attack was a justified retaliation for Israel’s assassination of senior leaders in Hamas and Hezbollah.

He also issued a warning that action against Iran would be returned with “decisive” action, according to a report by the BBC.

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had made a “big mistake” that it would “pay for.”

Mohammad Bagheri, the top military officer in Iran, appeared on state television early Wednesday local time and said Tehran’s missile strike targeted three Israeli military bases and Mossad’s headquarters.

Mossad is Israel’s intelligence agency. The bases targeted in the missile strike were Nevatim, Hatzerim, and Tel Nof, according to the New York Times.

Bagheri said that Iran intentionally avoided targeting any civilian structures or infrastructure.

The Independent’s Eric Garcia recounts the moment he — working in the White House press pool — learned of Iran’s attack on Israel and what unfolded shortly after.

Read his account of the day below:

The IDF confirmed early on Wednesday local time that it had hit what it described as “terrorist targets” in the southern suburbs of Beirut. An evacuation warning was reportedly sent to the area prior to the strike.

A strike against Lebanon’s capital on Friday killed Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

On Tuesday, Iran responded to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon by launching more than 100 missiles at the nation.

Images coming out of Israel following Iran’s missile attack appear to confirm that Tehran deployed its advanced Fattah missiles.

According to reporting by the New York Times, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they did use the missiles in Tuesday’s attack, and that the missles had never been used prior to the attack.