Iran launches missiles toward Israel: IDF

Iran launched missiles toward Israel, prompting air raid sirens in central Israel, hours after the White House warned of an imminent ballistic missile attack. The attack appears to be retaliation for recent Israeli assassinations, including the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli security cabinet convened at a government bunker near Jerusalem in response to the attack. The US had warned Israel of the impending attack around noon local time and is actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel. A senior White House official stated that a direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran. The attack comes after Israel escalated its conflict with Hezbollah by launching a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Iran has been promising retaliation against Israel for two months and is expected to use ballistic missiles that could reach Israel within 12 minutes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security consultations and stated that Israel will stand firm in the challenging days ahead. The US is closely following the situation in the Middle East and is committed to Israel's security, according to Secretary of State Tony Blinken. The situation is developing, with the Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson stating that air defense systems are fully prepared and air force jets are patrolling the sky.