Hours after the first reports about an imminent attack, Iranโs 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 Statesโ 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 postureโs reinforcement. โSecretary 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,โ 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 Israelโs official X account mentioned a total of 181 missiles. Gen. Ryder said in a briefing at the Pentagon that the attack was โabout twice as largeโ as the one in April.
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
โ Israel ืืฉืจืื (@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. According to Gen. Ryder, about a dozen interceptors were launched by U.S. ships, specifically the USS Bulkeley and USS Cole.
The IDF says that it intercepted โa large numberโ of the 180 ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel this evening.
Israelโs air defenses were โeffective,โ the IDF is saying. The US also participated in the defense of Israel, both by detecting the threat from Iran andโฆ
โ 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.
โ 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
โ 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.
โDuring the defense, weโฆ
โ Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 1, 2024
It appears that, once again, Jordan participated in the defense after the armed forces were put on high alert. CNN quoted Jordanian officials who mentioned the country actively participated in shooting down several missiles. Jordan also reportedly opened its airspace to U.S. aircraft for the operations, while no mentions were made regarding Israeli aircraft.
Following reports by Jordanian Officials that several of the Iranian Long-Range Ballistic Missiles fired tonight against Israel, were Downed by Jordanian Armed Forces; Jordan has announced now that all Branches and Units of its Armed Force have been placed on High Alert, in orderโฆ
โ OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 1, 2024
CNN quoting a Jordanian official: We actively participated in shooting down Iranian missiles. https://t.co/GO6yntyimW
โ EndGameWW3 ๐บ๐ธ (@EndGameWW3) 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. Many airlines had their aircraft diverting or returning back to their departure airport as the airspace over Iran and Iraq quickly emptied.
๐จ 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. โ๏ธ
๐ NOTAM: E) BAGHDAD FIR CLSD DUE TO SECURITY โUntil Further Notice.โ #aviationโฆ pic.twitter.com/9Qw9P9bOhr
โ RadarBox (@RadarBoxCom) October 1, 2024
๐ฏ๐ดโ 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
โ 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
โ Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 1, 2024
๐ฎ๐ถโ 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
โ 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
โ Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 1, 2024
The airspace of Israel has now been reopened, with reports of both GPS jamming and spoofing. Jordan and Iraq also reopened their airpace few hours later.
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
โ RadarBox (@RadarBoxCom) October 1, 2024
GPS spoofing is the act of transmitting fake signals to deceive a receiverโs location. Unlike jamming, which blocks signals, spoofing tricks systems like drones or missiles into believing theyโre elsewhere. Itโs been used in war zones like Ukraine & the Middle East to disruptโฆ https://t.co/f37paKZI7G
โ RadarBox (@RadarBoxCom) October 1, 2024
Iranโs IRGC released a statement regarding the missile attack on Israel: โIn 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 Iranโs operations, it will face heavy strikes.โ
๐ฎ๐ท๐ฎ๐ฑ | Iranโs Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a statement regarding the missile attack on Israel:
โIn 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 toโฆ https://t.co/5uqQ98brH2 pic.twitter.com/tPPSm2BbCT
โ 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
โ Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) October 1, 2024
The aftermath
Israel had already promised a โharshโ 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 after multiple missiles targeted air bases.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says Israel will respond to the Iranian missile attack on the country.
โWe 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 actโฆ
โ Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 1, 2024
IDF: The capabilities of the Air Force have been fully preserved โ we will strike firmly in the Middle East tonight. pic.twitter.com/woM0fG7yjh
โ Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) October 1, 2024
๐จ๐จ๐จ IDF: We will strike tonight along the Middle East
โ Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 1, 2024
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari has issued a statement:
โIran 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 Southernโฆ pic.twitter.com/shZ3042N0I
โ Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 1, 2024
According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel might attack Iranian nuclear facilities as part of their own retaliatory strikes.
According to the Wall Street Journal; Israel had recently told Iran through Back-Channels that they would Respond to any Attack on their Territory, no matter how big or small, and not dependent on if there were Casualties. With Strikes against Iranโs Nuclear and Oil Facilitiesโฆ
โ OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) 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
โ ๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ก ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฑโณ ๐ฌ๐ช๐บ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ท (@TheDeadDistrict) October 1, 2024
Rockets launched from Kermanshah, Iran pic.twitter.com/mC95RKRqEn
โ ๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ก ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฑโณ ๐ฌ๐ช๐บ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ท (@TheDeadDistrict) October 1, 2024
Incredible view of Iranian ballistic missiles striking Israeli territory this evening. pic.twitter.com/YuNMgtDstD
โ Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 1, 2024
Missile or missile fragment impacts in downtown Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/q7OPhvRiZl
โ 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.
โ 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.
ืฉืจืืื ืืื ืืืืชืงืคื ืืืืจืื ืืช ื ืืฆืื ืืชื ืฉืืข >>@ShaIsrael2 pic.twitter.com/kYlXoubcd9
โ ืืืฆ (@GLZRadio) October 1, 2024
Palestinian media report that a man was killed by missile shrapnel in the West Bank village of Nuโeima, near Jericho, amid the Iranian attack on Israel. pic.twitter.com/YXlzruWml7
โ Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 1, 2024
Multiple casualties being reported in Jordan due to fallen missile debris. pic.twitter.com/iy5O6HfMeU
โ 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
โ 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 Israelโs 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
โ 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 โa dozen interceptorsโ against the about 200 ballistic missiles that targeted several locations in Israel.
Ryder said that he wasnโt โgoing to get into this specific type of ordinanceโ the destroyers used
โ Konstantin Toropin (@KToropin) October 1, 2024
USS Bulkeley (DDG-84)
USS Cole (DDG-67)
Launched โdozensโ 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 Mediterraneanโฆ pic.twitter.com/sb3L6xi6vw
โ Intelschizo (@Schizointel) October 1, 2024
