‘Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay’

The Israeli military said yesterday regular infantry and armoured units were joining ground operations in southern Lebanon against Iran-backed Hizbollah, as Israel prepared to retaliate against a barrage of Iranian missile strikes.

Iran said yesterday its missile attack on Israel, its biggest military assault on the country, was over, barring further provocation, while Israel and the United States vowed to hit back.

Israel will launch a "significant retaliation" within days that could target oil production facilities inside Iran and other strategic sites, US news website Axios reported yesterday, citing Israeli officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to strike back.

"Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it," he said at an emergency political security cabinet meeting yesterday, according to a statement.

Later yesterday, Israel was beefing up its presence in south Lebanon in its conflict with Hizbollah.

The addition of infantry and armoured troops from the 36th Division, including the Golani Brigade, the 188th Armoured Brigade and 6th Infantry Brigade, suggests the operation has moved beyond limited commando raids.

The military has said the ground operation is largely aimed at destroying tunnels and other infrastructure on the border and there were no plans for a wider operation targeting Beirut or major cities.

Israel renewed its bombardment of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hizbollah, with at least a dozen air strikes against what it said were targets belonging to the group.

Large plumes of smoke rose from parts of the suburbs. Israel issued new evacuation orders for the area, which has largely emptied after days of heavy strikes.

Hizbollah said it confronted Israeli forces infiltrating the Lebanese town of Adaisseh yesterday and forced them to retreat.

Iran said its assault on Israel earlier yesterday was solely aimed at military facilities.

Iran’s state news agency said three Israeli military bases had been targeted.

The Israeli military published video of a school in the central city of Gadera that was heavily damaged by an Iranian missile.

Teheran said its assault was a response to Israeli killings of militant leaders and aggression in Lebanon against Hizbollah and in Gaza.

"Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X yesterday.

"In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful."

The US said it would work with Israel to ensure Iran faced "severe consequences" for the attack, which Israel said involved more than 180 ballistic missiles.

Iran’s forces used hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time, and 90% of its missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, the Revolutionary Guards said.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin spoke to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and said Washington was "well-postured" to defend its interests in the Middle East, the Pentagon said.

US Navy warships fired about a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles headed towards Israel, the Pentagon said.

Britain said its forces played a part "in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East", without elaborating.

Israel activated air defences against Iran’s bombardment earlier yesterday and most missiles were intercepted "by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the US", Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on X.

"Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation."

In a statement on state media, the general staff of Iran’s armed forces said any Israeli response would be met with "vast destruction" of the latter’s infrastructure.

It would also target the regional assets of any Israeli ally that got involved.