Missile intercepted over central Israel after Hezbollah targets Tel Aviv

In what the IDF called "a quick closing of the circle," the Air Force detected the launcher from which Hezbollah launched the missile, and subsequently attacked it.

By MATHILDA HELLER
Updated: SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 08:48
An interception of a Hezbollah ballistic missile over Central Israel, 25 September 2024 (photo credit: documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law)
An interception of a Hezbollah ballistic missile over Central Israel, 25 September 2024
(photo credit: documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law)

For the first time, Hezbollah launched a rocket at Tel Aviv, with sirens sounding across the city in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The IDF announced that one surface-to-surface missile from Lebanon had targeted central Israel, but was intercepted by the David's Slingshot aerial defense system.

In what the IDF called "a quick closing of the circle," the Air Force detected the launcher from which Hezbollah launched the missile, and subsequently attacked it. The launcher was in Nafakhiyeh, Lebanon, which is about 20 km from the border with Israel.

Hezbollah took responsibility for the launch on their official telegram on Wednesday, saying they had launcher a  “Qadr 1” ballistic missile at the Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah alleged that this HQ was responsible for planning and orchestrating the assassination of their leaders and the pager and communications attack last week. 

Sources claimed to the Saudi Al-Hadath newspaper that Hezbollah wanted to convey a symbolic message by launching the attack at 06:29 - the time the attack began on October 7.

There will be no change to the current defensive guidelines provided by the IDF, and educational activities will continue as usual in central Israel. The municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa confirmed that everything would proceed as normal, but that they were in contact with security services and would update as needed.

Shortly after the sirens, Magen David Adom (MDA) updated that no emergency calls or reports of any wounded had been received.

Arab media, including Saudi channel Al-Hadath, reported that the target of the missile was the IDF intelligence base in Glilot, north of Tel Aviv.

Despite some initial reports of delays at Ben Gurion International Airport following the sirens, the airport said everything was working as planned, including departures and landings. Airlines such as Wizz Air and Greek airline Aegean Airlines have canceled flights until 11:00 a.m.

According to KAN, several airlines, including Aegean and Wizz Air, canceled all flights to Israel until 11, following the incident.

The municipality of Netanya said that no falls had been reported. The Mayor of Ramat Gan posted on X/Twitter that "the closure of the education system carries a heavy price; our children have been affected for several years by the closure of the education system due to COVID and the war, they need stability."

"As long as we are able to do so, we prefer to keep schools open." 

Attacks on Tel Aviv

According to KAN, Brigadier General (Res.) Ilan Biton, former head of Israel's Air Defense Division, said that "The anti long-range missile and rocket defense systems know how to intercept. However, the system is not airtight. It should be assessed that the rate of missiles that aren't intercepted from Lebanon will be higher, so proper behavior is vital."

This is the first rocket fired toward central Israel since Yemen's Houthis fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv on September 15.

Nine people were lightly wounded while running to safe rooms following the sirens, Magen David Adom reported, adding that paramedics had evacuated the injured to the hospital. 

This is a developing story.



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