Jerusalem/Tehran, Oct 2 (UNI) Israel's military said on Tuesday that Iran launched several waves of missile attacks at Israel in the evening, adding more missiles are expected.
Israel's rescue services reported that two people in Tel Aviv were lightly injured by shrapnel, noting that a building in the northern part of the city was damaged. There have been no immediate reports of fatalities in Israel yet.
Israel's Airports Authority issued a statement announcing the closure of the country's airspace, with incoming flights being redirected to other countries. Due to security concerns, nearby countries of Jordan and Iraq have also announced the temporary closure of their airspace to flights and suspension of air traffic.
At least 200 ground-to-ground missiles were fired from Iran, activating sirens across the country and sending millions of residents running to shelters, Israel's Channel 13 TV news reported.
Large explosions were heard across the country as a result of either the successful interceptions of some Iranian missiles or the landing of some others in Israeli territory after they bypassed Israeli air defenses, the military said.
Xinhua correspondents in Jerusalem also confirmed that sirens blared throughout the city, loud explosions were heard, and residents were seeking shelter amid the attacks.
Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed that it had targeted Israel with dozens of ballistic missiles, Iran's state-run IRIB TV reported.
The IRGC said in a statement that the attacks were in retaliation for Israel's assassinations of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and senior IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan, as well as its intensification of "malicious acts" with the U.S. support in its offensives against Lebanese and Palestinian peoples, according to IRIB TV.
The operation was carried out following the approval of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and a directive by the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, with the support of the country's army and Defense Ministry, the IRGC added.
It warned that if Israel retaliates by attacking Iran, it will face further "crushing and destructive" attacks.
UNI/XINHUA ARN