Iran attacks Israel with a hail of missiles: escalation of tension in the Middle East.

The Middle East has erupted into a new wave of violence and tension, with Iran launching a massive offensive against Israel. The Israeli military (IDF) confirmed that Tehran has unleashed a barrage of ballistic and cruise missiles on Tel Aviv and other areas of the country. This attack is a direct response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander of Iran's Quds Force, by Israeli forces.

The Missile Attack: A Decisive Response

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the Pasdaran, have declared that this attack is a retaliation for the death of their leaders. About 400 rockets were fired toward Israel, in an operation that lasted just over an hour. Alarm sirens sounded throughout the country, and the Israeli population was urged to take refuge in bunkers. Despite the severity of the offensive, the Israeli defense system, strengthened by U.S. assistance, managed to intercept a significant portion of the rockets, thus preventing major damage.

Israel, meanwhile, has not sat idly by. Since Monday, Israeli troops have been moving into southern Lebanon, supported by air strikes, in an attempt to destroy the military infrastructure of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite militia. However, no direct clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have yet occurred, leaving open the possibility of a future escalation.

international reactions

The attack generated an immediate reaction on the international scene. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari stressed that there will be consequences for Iran: “We have plans and we will act at the time and place of our choosing.” The situation remains extremely tense, with Israel on high alert for both defensive and offensive operations.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also expressed deep concern, calling for an immediate ceasefire and condemning the escalation of the ongoing conflict. In parallel, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has undertaken a series of consultations with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Middle Eastern leaders, including King Abdullah of Jordan, in an attempt to contain the crisis.

The involvement of the United States

The United States is closely following the evolution of the conflict. The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and his administration are constantly monitoring the situation from the Situation Room, and the American military is ready to provide additional support to Israel to intercept any incoming missiles. American assistance is proving crucial for the defense of Israel, already hit hard by the Iranian attack.

The possible consequences

Iran has clearly warned that any further Israeli response will result in a new and devastating response. The Pasdaran have promised that if Israel decides to strike back, the Zionist regime will suffer crushing consequences. In an official statement, Tehran called the attack a legitimate response to Israel's "terrorist actions."

The crisis between Israel and Iran is rapidly escalating into a full-scale confrontation. The risk of further escalation remains high, and the international community is busy trying to prevent a conflict that could further destabilize the entire Middle East region. It remains to be seen how the situation will evolve in the coming days, with Israel ready to react and Iran determined to defend its interests.

Emergency Government Summit at Palazzo Chigi

In light of the worsening crisis in the Middle East, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urgently called a summit at Palazzo Chigi to discuss the situation and evaluate the necessary measures.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, connected remotely, the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, the Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, delegated authority for the security services, the heads of the secret services, the Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister and, connected, the Italian Ambassador to Israel, Luca Ferrari.

“In condemning the Iranian attack on Israel, the Italian Government expresses deep concern for the ongoing developments and calls for the responsibility of all regional actors, asking to avoid further escalations. Italy will continue to work for a diplomatic solution, also in its capacity as rotating president of the G7, for the stabilization of the Israeli-Lebanese border through the full implementation of resolution 1701. In this context, Italy invites the United Nations Security Council to consider strengthening the mandate of the UNIFIL mission in order to ensure the security of the border between Israel and Lebanon in implementation of the current UN resolutions. It is equally urgent to reach an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages in line with resolution 2735”.

In the immediate future, the Government is committed to ensuring the safety of Italian citizens and UNIFIL contingent soldiers. The Government table has been convened permanently to constantly monitor the evolution of the situation and promptly adopt the necessary measures.