Israel Prepare for Retribution After Iran's Rocket Attack

tel aviv - Israel is considering severe retaliation after Iran's rocket assault on its targets, raising tensions in the region.

The joy is likely to be short-lived. Israel is contemplating a fierce retaliation, with officials openly speculating about a wide range of targets: from the installations that launched the rockets to the oil and nuclear facilities. Particularly the latter would likely mean a full-scale war.

Iran claims to have targeted various locations on Tuesday evening: three military bases in the south of Israel and the headquarters of Mossad just north of Tel Aviv. The extent of the damage is still unclear. A rocket reportedly hit an airbase, while a school in southern Gedera was also struck, though no one was present at the time.

The only fatal victim was in Jericho, in the West Bank. Shocking footage from a surveillance camera shows a massive fragment of a ballistic missile hitting a man's head. According to Israeli media, the victim was a Palestinian from Gaza who was illegally present in the West Bank. Several people were wounded in Jordan by falling debris from the rockets. The Jordanian military aided in intercepting the Iranian rockets.

Despite the Arab casualties, Palestinians near Hebron took to the streets in celebration. They proudly displayed a large chunk of one of the Iranian projectiles in the town square of Dura, eagerly taking photos. The situation in the West Bank, where Hamas is strongly represented, has been on the verge of exploding.

Israel fears that Hamas may be plotting (suicide) attacks in Israel from there. Two Palestinians opened fire at a tram station in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening, resulting in seven deaths. For many city residents, this 'simple' attack was more frightening than the 180 rockets fired by Iran. There is hardly any defense against such an attack. The shooters were neutralized.

The attack is most likely unrelated to the later strikes by Iran. The Revolutionary Guard claims that 90% of the rockets hit their targets, which is not the case. Israeli air defense systems, especially the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3, intercepted many, aided by American naval ships in the Mediterranean.

Tehran claims it acted in retaliation for the Israeli assassinations of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian Revolutionary Guard general Abbas Nilforushan, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Ayatollah Khamenei immediately posted an image of an underground weapons depot on X, with the caption: 'Victory comes from Allah and it is close.' He likely did so from the special bunker where he was evacuated to for security reasons.

Iranian state television eagerly broadcasted footage of the rocket launches. They also showed celebrations in cities like Mashhad, Tehran, Arak, and Qom, where citizens took to the streets waving Hezbollah flags and pictures of Nasrallah. It remains unclear if these gatherings, as often, were orchestrated by the regime itself. Nevertheless, the slogans were consistent: 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel'.

There was also great jubilation in the southern neighborhoods of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold where Nasrallah was killed on Friday. People fired guns into the air and set off fireworks. A few hours later, Israel conducted airstrikes on that part of the Lebanese capital after warning civilians to evacuate.

Hamas also praised Iran's 'heroic' act. According to the terrorist group, it was a response to 'the continual crimes of the occupation against the region's population and as retribution for the blood of the heroic martyrs of our nation.' Hours later, Israel launched airstrikes on the north of Gaza, targeting a school where, according to the military, terrorists were hiding. Nine people were killed.

Trying to sleep when hundreds of rockets are heading your way is a daunting task, says correspondent Ralph Dekkers in the latest podcast. From our correspondent: