There was a terrorist attack in Israel around the same time Iran launched a missile attack on the country. See what the U.S. is saying about Iran’s escalation.
Iran fired about 200 ballistic missiles into Israel on Tuesday many of which were intercepted.
Jake Sullivan, national security advisor to President Joe Biden, said there was one known casualty in the attack: a Palestinian civilian.
“This attack appears to be defeated and ineffective,” Sullivan stated.
Sullivan added that U.S. Naval destroyers worked with Israelis to shoot down and intercept the missiles.
The missile strikes from Iran come at a volatile time in the Middle East. Israel on Tuesday began a ground incursion in Lebanon, going after Hezbollah operatives. In previous days, Israel had killed the terrorist organization’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforushan.
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Iran claimed Israel’s actions warranted a response.
“Irans legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regimewhich involved targeting Iranian nationals and interests and infringing upon the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iranhas been duly carried out,” said Iran’s representatives at the United Nations said.
Iran also warned any further retaliation from Israel would prompt a “subsequent and crushing response.”
Around the same time people were coming out of bomb shelters on Tuesday, Israel said terrorists attacked citizens on a light rail train in Jaffa. A law enforcement spokesperson said the gunmen got on the train and began shooting indiscriminately.
At least four Israeli citizens were killed, authorities said, and numerous others were injured.
Israeli police said the two gunmen were killed, but offered no further details about a motive.
It’s unclear whether the attack on the train was connected to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon or the Iranian missile attacks.