Iran says it fired dozens of missiles into Israel on Tuesday as the months-long fighting between Israel and Iran’s proxies in the region: Hezbollah and Hamas; escalated, threatening a wider regional conflict.
Israel ordered residents to remain close to bomb shelters as air raid sirens sounded across the country.
Iran said it had launched the missile strike in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week. A statement also made reference to Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in Tehran in July.
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said his department is in contact with the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office in Ramallah.
“We urge all our citizens affected to take every precaution and follow the advice of authorities. This continuing escalation needs to stop.”
Mr Martin said the consequences of widening regional conflict would be disastrous for all the peoples of the region.
“I urge all leaders to think of the immediate and long-term consequences of their actions.
The strikes came as Israeli police said six people had been killed in a shooting incident in Tel Aviv. No further details were released.
A series of window-shaking explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and near Jerusalem, though it was not immediately clear whether the sounds were from missiles landing or being intercepted by Israeli defences, or both.
Israel and the United States have warned there would be severe consequences in the event of an attack on Israel from Iran, which backs the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari released a video statement on Tuesday saying “the air defence system is fully operational, detecting and intercepting threats wherever necessary, even at this moment”.
Soon after, a series of explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and near Jerusalem.
It was not immediately known if they were interceptions or incoming missiles landing. The explosions near Jerusalem were so loud that windows shook.
The orders to shelter in place were sent to Israelis’ mobile phones and announced on national television.
TV stations reported sirens in parts of Jerusalem as well as central Israel.
The alerts were sounded after a day of rocket and missile attacks from Lebanon, and as Israel said it had begun limited ground operations in southern Lebanon.
Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire pounded southern Lebanese villages where people were ordered to evacuate, and Hezbollah militants responded by firing a barrage of rockets into Israel.
There was no immediate word on casualties as fighting intensified and concerns of a wider regional war grew.
A senior White House official warned of “severe consequences” should Iran launch a ballistic missile against Israel.
US ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack from Iran.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.
