Hours after the first reports about an imminent attack, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles against targets across Israel.
On Oct. 1, 2024, Iran launched a retaliatory strike on Israel after the targeted assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah few days earlier, on Sept. 27. The first reports mention hundreds of ballistic missiles launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against targets across Israel, with the attack being already defined as much larger than the previous retaliatory strike in April 2024.
Israeli and U.S. forces in the area were already on high alert, with the United States’ Department of Defense deploying additional assets to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations. The measures are meant to deter aggression and mitigate the risk of a broader regional conflict, said the Pentagon.
U.S. officials mentioned threats by Iran of an imminent attack on Israel with ballistic missiles just few hours after announcing the posture’s reinforcement. “Secretary Austin stressed that the United States is determined to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict,” read a statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
The attack and the reaction
Reports online ranged from 200 to 400 missiles launched, while Israel’s official X account mentioned a total of 181 missiles.
We condemn your inability to string together a tweet which holds Iran responsible for firing 181 ballistic missiles at 10 million Israeli civilians.@antonioguterres https://t.co/5MLYbYqLlz
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 1, 2024
An unspecified large number of missiles has been shot down by the Israeli air defenses. As anticipated, the United States also took part in the defensive effort, with reports of U.S. Navy destroyers opening fire to shoot down multiple missiles. Impacts were recorded in central and southern Israel.
The IDF says that it intercepted “a large number” of the 180 ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel this evening.
Israel’s air defenses were “effective,” the IDF is saying. The US also participated in the defense of Israel, both by detecting the threat from Iran and…
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 1, 2024
U.S. destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea took down multiple missiles launched by Iran at Israel on Tuesday night, U.S. defense officials said.
At the moment, those there include the USS Arleigh Burke, USS Cole, and USS Bulkeley. Additional destroyers are in the Red Sea.
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) October 1, 2024
NEW: US has intercepted incoming Iranian missiles in defense of Israel, a U.S. official tells ABC News. Now clear how many. https://t.co/ojX2cFX6fL
— Matt Seyler (@MattSeyler) October 1, 2024
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says there are no additional threats heading toward Israel from Iran currently, indicating that the missile attack is over.
Residents were notified a short while ago that they can leave bomb shelters, after an hour.
“During the defense, we…
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 1, 2024
Iraq and Jordan also closed their airspace, while flights inbound to Tel Aviv were holding their position or diverting and flights over Iran were re-routed.
🚨 Major disruptions in Middle Eastern airspace as Iraq, Jordan, and Israel close their airspaces.
Flights are diverting, with key air routes now off-limits. Iraqi airspace: officially CLOSED. ✈️
🔔 NOTAM: E) BAGHDAD FIR CLSD DUE TO SECURITY “Until Further Notice.” #aviation… pic.twitter.com/9Qw9P9bOhr
— RadarBox (@RadarBoxCom) October 1, 2024
🇯🇴❌ Jordanian airspace is closed.
A0367/24 NOTAMN Q) OJAC/QAFLC/IV/NBO/E /000/999/3123N03648E159 A) OJAC B) 2410011650 C) 2410020800 E) AMMAN FIR CLSD UFN pic.twitter.com/BSz6VoM21r
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 1, 2024
Flights to Tel Aviv holding or diverting away. Reports of multiple rocket intercepts over the city now. https://t.co/08vR7nzitI pic.twitter.com/dff8rZSHOL
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 1, 2024
🇮🇶❌ As expected, Iraqi airspace is now closed.
A0422/24 NOTAMN Q) ORBB/QAFLC/IV/NBO/E/000/999/3320N04440E999 A) ORBB B) 2410011730 C) 2410012100 E) BAG FIR CLSD DUE TO SECURITY UNF. pic.twitter.com/2TCBrNoA2A
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 1, 2024
Flights over western Iran tacking east now, away from the established airways toward just established temporary airways. https://t.co/kp0CuFo2Ih pic.twitter.com/EHyf1GjaWo
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 1, 2024
The airspace of Israel has now been reopened, with reports of both GPS jamming and spoofing.
Israeli Airspace has been opened, and we are currently tracking two flights in and out of the airspace: https://t.co/oVWK35cJ3G https://t.co/9e3DrOe09A pic.twitter.com/gAiaqyYGhb
— RadarBox (@RadarBoxCom) October 1, 2024
GPS spoofing is the act of transmitting fake signals to deceive a receiver’s location. Unlike jamming, which blocks signals, spoofing tricks systems like drones or missiles into believing they’re elsewhere. It’s been used in war zones like Ukraine & the Middle East to disrupt… https://t.co/f37paKZI7G
— RadarBox (@RadarBoxCom) October 1, 2024
Iran’s IRGC released a statement regarding the missile attack on Israel: “In response to the martyrdom of Martyr Haniyeh, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Martyr Nilfroshan, we struck the heart of the occupied lands. If the Zionist regime reacts to Iran’s operations, it will face heavy strikes.”
🇮🇷🇮🇱 | Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a statement regarding the missile attack on Israel:
“In response to the martyrdom of Martyr Haniyeh, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Martyr Nilfroshan, we struck the heart of the occupied lands. If the Zionist regime reacts to… https://t.co/5uqQ98brH2 pic.twitter.com/tPPSm2BbCT
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) October 1, 2024
Initial images being released by Iranian media showing the launches of ballistic missiles earlier this evening. pic.twitter.com/n20j3Ven66
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) October 1, 2024
The aftermath
Israel had already promised a “harsh” response in the event of an attack, with the Israeli Defense Forces now saying they will strike back tonight throughout the Middle East, while also confirming that the Israeli Air Force assets were not damaged.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says Israel will respond to the Iranian missile attack on the country.
“We are on heightened alert on defense and offensive, we will protect the citizens of Israel. This [missile] fire will have consequences. We have plans, and we will act…
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 1, 2024
IDF: The capabilities of the Air Force have been fully preserved – we will strike firmly in the Middle East tonight. pic.twitter.com/woM0fG7yjh
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) October 1, 2024
🚨🚨🚨 IDF: We will strike tonight along the Middle East
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 1, 2024
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari has issued a statement:
“Iran launched a large-scale attack of over 180 ballistic missiles directly from Iranian soil at the State of Israel.
There were a small number of hits in the center of Israel, and other hits in Southern… pic.twitter.com/shZ3042N0I
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 1, 2024
Multiple videos were published online showing the attack, including both the launch and the impact of the ballistic missiles.
Salvo of Iranian missiles. pic.twitter.com/qk8C0BhjE7
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇺🇲🇬🇷 (@TheDeadDistrict) October 1, 2024
Rockets launched from Kermanshah, Iran pic.twitter.com/mC95RKRqEn
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇺🇲🇬🇷 (@TheDeadDistrict) October 1, 2024
Incredible view of Iranian ballistic missiles striking Israeli territory this evening. pic.twitter.com/YuNMgtDstD
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 1, 2024
Missile or missile fragment impacts in downtown Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/q7OPhvRiZl
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) October 1, 2024
To me, this video appears to be the clearest example of a substantial number of ballistic missile projectiles getting through.
Angle, speed, & impact are indicative of incoming warheads.
Also, note the horizontal spread of the impact points, which is indicative of a CEP.
— Fabian Hoffmann (@FRHoffmann1) October 1, 2024
Photos and video are also emerging of the debris left on the ground by the ballistic missiles, either after the interceptions or after impact. Debris of the missiles were also reported in Jordan and in the West Bank.
שרידי טיל מהמתקפה האיראנית נמצאו בתל שבע >>@ShaIsrael2 pic.twitter.com/kYlXoubcd9
— גלצ (@GLZRadio) October 1, 2024
Palestinian media report that a man was killed by missile shrapnel in the West Bank village of Nu’eima, near Jericho, amid the Iranian attack on Israel. pic.twitter.com/YXlzruWml7
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 1, 2024
Multiple casualties being reported in Jordan due to fallen missile debris. pic.twitter.com/iy5O6HfMeU
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) October 1, 2024
Imagery showing spent missile boosters used during the attack:
Left: Either a Kheybarshekan or (less likely) a Fattah 1
Right: Either an Emad or a Ghadr pic.twitter.com/iRspQaCTOG— Fabian Hinz (@fab_hinz) October 1, 2024
Geolocation of the videos circulated online has determined one the clips was shot near Nevatim Airbase.
Appears this video was indeed filmed outside of Israel’s Nevatim Airbase.
After looking at the geolocation with @gbrumfiel, appears the video was filmed from just south of the base at around 31.16204, 35.01097. Chairs match with cafe chairs.
Map link: https://t.co/YW6HQ81cFv https://t.co/KkfGkEoRDQ pic.twitter.com/eVObcgjROO
— Jake Godin (@JakeGodin) October 1, 2024
Some details about the support provided by the U.S. Navy warships in the region have been released.
NEW: @Pentagon PresSec says that the USS Bulkeley and USS Cole fired about “a dozen interceptors” against the about 200 ballistic missiles that targeted several locations in Israel.
Ryder said that he wasn’t “going to get into this specific type of ordinance” the destroyers used
— Konstantin Toropin (@KToropin) October 1, 2024
USS Bulkeley (DDG-84)
USS Cole (DDG-67)Launched “dozens” of interceptors while working in coordination with the Israeli military to intercept the 200 Ballistic Missiles launched from Iran.
See the latest map update of warships operating in Eastern Mediterranean… pic.twitter.com/sb3L6xi6vw
— Intelschizo (@Schizointel) October 1, 2024
