Netanyahu says Iran made ‘big mistake’ by firing missiles, ‘will pay for it’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Iran made a “big mistake” by launching missiles towards Israel. During the opening of the security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, he said Iran “will pay for it,” The Times of Israel reported.
The strike on Israel earlier in the evening “failed,” Netanyahu said. “It was thwarted thanks to Israel’s air defence system, which is the most advanced in the world,” he said, thanking the US for its support.
Millions of Israelis are currently seeking refuge in bomb shelters as Iran launched over 400 missiles toward Israel on Tuesday, setting off sirens across the country and prompting widespread emergency responses.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced that, following a recent situational assessment, residents across the country are now permitted to leave protected spaces. Authorities, however, urged the public to remain vigilant and adhere to ongoing guidelines from the Home Front Command.
After launching the attack against Israel, Iran said in an official statement, “In response to the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Martyr Nilforooshan, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories,” Tehran Times reported.
Iran’s attack on Israel is a “legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York said in a post on X on Tuesday.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said that Iran “is not belligerent”.
“Based on legitimate rights and with the aim of peace and security for Iran and the region, a decisive response was given to the aggression of the Zionist regime. This action was in defense of the interests and citizens of Iran. Let Netanyahu know that Iran is not a belligerent, but it stands firmly against any threat. This is only a corner of our power. Do not enter into a conflict with Iran,” he said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been moved to a secure location, a senior Iranian official told news agency Reuters, following a series of missile strikes fired at Israel.
As the rockets streaked through the sky, Israeli defence systems were quickly activated to intercept the incoming threat. The attack marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations, drawing a stern warning from the United States, which vowed “severe consequences” should the situation spiral further.

“A short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel. Israelis are instructed to remain alert and precisely follow the Home Front Command’s instructions. In the last few minutes, the Home Front Command has distributed life-saving instructions in various areas across the country. The IDF is doing and will do everything necessary to protect the civilians of the State of Israel,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated in an official statement.

Earlier, Israel stated that millions of Israelis are currently seeking refuge in bomb shelters as tensions escalate across the region. “To our brothers and sisters across Israel, we stand with each and every one of you,” Israel tweeted.
This salvo of the missiles came after the Israeli military stated that it launched ground operations against the Iran-backed militant organisation Hezbollah in Lebanon on Tuesday, further escalating the conflict after a week of intensive airstrikes that killed hundreds.

US President Joe Biden ordered the US military on Tuesday to “aid Israel’s defence” and shoot down Iranian missiles targeting Israel, the White House said.
The US, having significantly increased its military presence in the region, was instrumental in intercepting Iranian missiles during Tehran’s previous attack on Israel on April 13.
Earlier today, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III spoke with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to address the threat of an imminent Iranian attack against Israel. Austin emphasised the US commitment to safeguarding its interests and allies in the region, underscoring that the United States has “increased force readiness” and possesses “significant military capability” to counter any threats posed by Iran or its proxies.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military imposed stricter restrictions on civilians in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, signalling preparations for potential reprisals from Hezbollah or Iran. The new limits on gatherings in Israel’s urban centres were announced just hours after the military confirmed that its forces had crossed into Lebanon in an operation targeting Hezbollah positions in the border region.
The Israeli forces stated that one army division — typically comprising over 10,000 soldiers — was engaged in “limited, localised, and targeted raids” along the border, The New York Times reported. However, it remains unclear how many of those troops have entered Lebanon.
For weeks, Israel’s offensive in Lebanon has been rising, including the intensive airstrike and killing of several top leaders of Hezbollah, including the group’s chief a Hassan Nasrallah.