Iran has launched missiles at Israel – IDF

Iran has launched ballistic missiles towards Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday evening, instructing civilians to head to shelters when they hear alert sirens.

“A short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari announced in a video message. “Upon hearing a siren, you must enter a shelter and remain there until further notice.”

The IDF sent out the same message on its Telegram channel, on X, and via the Israeli media.

The military also said it “is doing and will do everything necessary to protect the civilians” in Israel.

Earlier in the day, anonymous US officials told American media that Washington had warned West Jerusalem of an impending launch by Tehran. The US was expecting an attack similar to a strike in April in which some 300 missiles and drones were used.

The US embassy in West Jerusalem instructed all its staff and their families to ”shelter in place” due to potential rocket and drone strikes, but did not specifically mention Iran.

The reported strike comes after Israeli ground troops invaded southern Lebanon early on Tuesday, in an operation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as targeting Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia militia.