Iran launches missiles against Israel to defend its ‘axis of resistance’

Israel recently attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen

Explosions lit up the sky over Jerusalem as missile defense systems worked to intercept an Iranian attack on Israel. Photo by AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images

By Lauren Markoe October 1, 2024

Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel Tuesday, and air raid sirens could be heard across the country. The missiles have come in at least two waves, with about 400 launched, according to Iran. That’s more than twice as many as the Iron Dome intercepted when Iran attacked Israel in April.

All Israeli civilians are in bomb shelters as rockets from Iran are fired at Israel. pic.twitter.com/bKXPdqMsBr
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 1, 2024

There are also reports of multiple terror attacks in Israel. Two gunman killed eight people and wounded seven at a light rail station in Jaffa, just south of Tel Aviv. Israeli police said they are responding to reports of terrorists at the Sharon Hotel in the central city of Herzliya

Why is Iran attacking Israel?

Iran is responding to a series of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, the terrorist militia that began launching rockets at Israel after Oct. 7 in support of Hamas in Gaza.

Last week, an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Hezbollah leader Hassam Nasrallah, which followed an operation, widely attributed to Israel, in which thousands of Hezbollah militants were injured when their pagers exploded in their pockets.

Since then Israel has killed other top Hezbollah leaders, and in the past day announced it was making limited ground incursions into southern Lebanon to root out pockets of Hezbollah fighters closest to Israel’s northern border.

The U.S., as it has before, has vowed to come to Israel’s defense.

What is the ‘Axis of Resistance’?

The “Axis of Resistance” refers to the militant groups backed by Iran who have all vowed to destroy Israel. The group includes Hezbollah in Lebanon (known as the world’s most heavily armed non-state group), Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, the Syrian government and groups of Iraqi militias.

In the past these groups have attacked Israel, but also other targets, including Saudi Arabia and U.S. interests in the Middle East. After Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, these groups launched attacks of their own against Israel.

Will this attack set off a regional war in the Middle East?

Iran launched a direct attack on Israel for the first time in April, sending more than 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and 120 ballistic missiles toward the Jewish state. Israel was able to intercept nearly all of them with the help of the U.S., France, Britain, Jordan, and Saudi allies. Casualties were few.

Iran’s attack at the time was a response to the killing of two of its top Iranian generals in Damascus. Some experts argued that Iran felt the need to retaliate, but exercised restraint to avoid inflicting serious harm and triggering a regional war.

Tensions in the region have continued to escalate since Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 240 people hostage, sparking a war in Gaza.

Lauren Markoe is news editor of the Forward. A Bronx native, she reported for The Patriot Ledger, several McClatchy newspapers in the South, and Religion News Service, where she was also managing editor. She also produced live radio shows at WAMU in Washington, D.C., where she lives.

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