Jordan on high alert as Iran strikes Israel with missile barrage
The Jordanian military stated Iran's attack on Israel. It informed that all units and formations in the general command of the armed forces have been "put on high alert to counter any attempts to threaten the kingdom's security and stability."
"The general command is closely monitoring events in the region and has taken necessary precautions to build and support front-line units on the border fronts to protect the homeland," the statement added.
Iran's attack on Israel
Iran launched a volley of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, and an alert was declared across the country. The army reported that it shot down "a large part" of the 290 kilometres per hour rockets heading towards Israel.
Explosions were heard in various parts of the country, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. About an hour after the air raid began, the military announced that there was no further threat and lifted the alert.
Israel on consequences
This is a serious attack that will have consequences - said Israeli Defence Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
The army reported that air defence operated effectively, and U.S. troops helped defend the country, both by targeting missiles and – in some cases – shooting them down.
Media footage shows interceptor missiles shooting down Iranian rockets over Jerusalem.
Second attack in history
This was the second direct attack by Iran on Israel in history. The first occurred in mid-April of this year, when Iran launched hundreds of rockets and drones in retaliation for the killing of several senior Revolutionary Guard commanders in an Israeli airstrike on Damascus. With the help of the U.S., the UK, France and Sunni Arab states, most of the missiles were shot down at that time.
Israel announced that it had eliminated a large portion of Hezbollah's combat capabilities and killed almost all the group's senior commanders, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, military and political officials emphasised the need to continue operations, and a "limited" ground operation by Israeli forces began in southern Lebanon from Monday night to Tuesday.
Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Friday. The airstrike targeted an underground Hezbollah headquarters where senior organisation commanders had gathered. Among the killed was also Abbas Nilforoushan, a general of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard responsible for operations outside Iran's borders.
