By Paul Joseph
Israel has warned it will respond decisively after Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Israeli territory on Sunday, marking the first direct Iranian aerial threat since the ceasefire reached in April.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the missile’s primary warhead was intercepted by a United States Aegis missile defense system before Israel’s Iron Dome engaged and destroyed remaining fragments near the southern city of Eilat.
The IDF said interceptor debris landed in an open area outside Eilat, causing neither casualties nor property damage. Military officials also clarified that no missile fragments fell within Israeli territory, correcting earlier media reports.
The incident represents the first operational use of Israel’s Iron Dome against an Iranian aerial threat since the April 7 ceasefire came into effect.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated that Israel would not tolerate missile attacks from Iran, warning that any future strike would trigger a forceful military response.
“If Iran fires missiles at Israel, Israel will strike Iran with force. There is no equation we will accept in which Iran fires at Israel,” Katz said during a briefing with military and diplomatic correspondents.
He added that the Israeli military had been instructed to prepare for an independent operation against Iran if necessary, describing it as a “blue-and-white operation” an Israeli-led mission that would not rely on external military support.
The missile launch comes amid rising tensions across the Middle East. Iran has continued attacks targeting U.S. allies in the Gulf region, while Bahrain activated air raid sirens twice on Saturday after detecting incoming drones and missiles.
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