Warning sirens sound across Israel throughout the night
Overnight, there were alarms going off successively and throughout the night. So Israelis were going in and out shelters pretty much all night.
There were no injuries reported, and we’re not sure where the impact of those missiles was. There were some reports of missiles falling in open areas in the Negev.
But already we are hearing about the impact of all of that – 14,000 applications for compensation have been filed to Israel’s Ministry of Finance from people whose homes have been damaged and 24 buildings are already condemned for demolition.
This, of course, comes as the oil refinery and other refineries have been shut down, especially in Haifa, due to the damage sustained from earlier Iranian missile strikes. The power plant in Haifa as well.
Israelis take shelter in a parking garage during a missile alert from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, early on Tuesday
Explosions near Tel Aviv, sirens blare across Israel: Reports
The Ynet News site says there have been explosions in central Israel and reports of damage to a building in the coastal city of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. The Times of Israel is meanwhile reporting “echoes of large explosions” in the Jerusalem area and says sirens are being sounded across the country.
Bus in central Israel on fire after Iranian attack: Report
Israel’s Ynet News is reporting that Iranian missiles crashed into four sites in Israel, damaging an eight-storey building in Herzliya and setting an empty bus in the coastal city on fire.
It cited the emergency services as saying that there have been no reports of casualties from this latest missile salvo.
Blasts over Jerusalem, Tel Aviv after Iran missile warning
Loud booms were heard over Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem after the military warned of incoming Iranian missiles. The military said in a statement the air force is “operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat”.
About 20 minutes later, the army released another statement saying people were allowed to leave protected spaces in several areas across the country.
Search and rescue teams are operating in several locations where “reports of fallen projectiles were received”, an Israeli police statement said. “Missiles and shrapnel fell in the Tel Aviv area, causing material damage but no injuries,” it added.
The fire and rescue service said there was an initial report of a “missile strike and fire” in the Dan district, an area surrounding Tel Aviv. “Around 08:45 [05:45 GMT], numerous calls were received … regarding a missile strike and a fire in the Gush Dan area. Firefighting forces are on their way to the scene,” it said in a statement.
There were two direct impacts from those Iranian missiles – one in the Tel Aviv area and one in Herzliya. Israeli reports are describing the missile strike in Herzliya as having targeted a sensitive site. That is code for something of military or strategic significance. The military censor in Israel has updated and further constrained the limitations of media coverage on missile strikes on Israel. So we have very little information.
Smoke rises from a fire in Herzliya near Tel Aviv after a new barrage of Iranian rockets on June 17
Also in the past few minutes, we heard from the Israeli military announcing they killed Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Shadmani. That is a big announcement, one sure to indicate a road towards further escalation.
