Khamenei's speech fails to address missile attack on Israel

Just hours before the debate, Iran launched its largest attack on Israel, firing over 180 ballistic missiles. The escalation followed Israel's targeted assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon and a key commander of Iran’s IRGC.
With the latest developments shaping the debate, CBS moderator Margaret Brennan opened by asking Democratic VP candidate Walz whether, as the final voice in the Situation Room, he would support or oppose a preemptive Israeli strike on Iran.

Republican VP candidate JD Vance, in turn, said it is up to Israel to keep its country safe – and that the US should support its allies wherever they are when they’re fighting adversaries.

The bestselling author and military veteran, started his response by accusing the current administration for providing Tehran with sanctions relief, which he argued helped bolster Iran’s arsenal.

“Iran, which launched this attack, has received over $100 billion in unfrozen assets thanks to the Kamala Harris administration. What do they use that money for? They use it to buy weapons that they're now launching against our allies and, God forbid, potentially launching against the United States as well,” Vance told the moderators.

However, it should be noted that the Biden administration released $16 billion in frozen assets from South Korea and Iraq, while it failed to enforce oil export sanctions on Iran, which generated additional tens of billion dollars.

Walz avoided directly addressing the allegation of sanctions relief and asset unfreezing, instead criticizing Trump for exiting the Iran nuclear deal without offering a replacement, which he argued brought Iran closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

In September of 2023, the US issued a sanctions waiver for banks to transfer $6 billions of frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, paving the way for the release of five Americans held by Iran. Many Republicans condemned the transfer arguing that President Joe Biden paid a "ransom to the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism". Democrats meanwhile, defended the action claiming that Iran could only use the money for humanitarian trade.

Walz also referenced the April military clash between Israel and Iran, noting that despite Iran's large-scale retaliation, Israel and its allies successfully intercepted most of the missiles, minimizing the damage.

“Steady leadership like you witnessed today, like you witnessed in April. Both Iranian attacks were repelled. Our coalition is strong, and we need the steady leadership that Kamala Harris is providing,” Walz said.

In his final comments on Iran, Vance rejected Walz’s criticism, arguing that Iran’s nuclear advances and the October 7th attacks occurred under the Biden-Harris administration, not Trump’s.

He also defended Trump’s foreign policy, portraying it as more effective in ensuring global stability – arguing that the former President’s communication style is irrelevant to real outcomes.

“So Governor Walz can criticize Donald Trump's tweets, but effective, smart diplomacy and peace through strength is how you bring stability back to a very broken world,” Vance said.

In Tel Aviv, typically busy streets were unusually quiet, with some shops closed and a subdued atmosphere. In Jerusalem, the normally bustling streets of the Old City have been silent all week, as concerns grow over potential attacks during the upcoming Jewish holidays.

Wednesday will mark the first night of the Jewish new year, usually celebrated as a joyful time, but this year, it will be tainted with anxiety. The whole month is marked by a series of religious holidays, with fears they will be marred by further attacks, like last year's Simchat Torah festival.

It comes as Israel prepares for the one-year anniversary of October 7 when Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel, killing at least 1,100 mostly civilians and taking 251 hostages, 101 of whom remain in captivity.

As the Gaza war persists and more troops are deployed for ground operations in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, Iran's largest proxy, a second Iranian airstrike since April has heightened tensions across the country.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Iran “will pay” for the attack which saw almost 200 ballistic missiles overwhelm the country’s aerial defense systems.

Iran has said the attack is over but any retaliation will be met with “vast destruction” as the two countries continue their years-long confrontation. IDF announced on Wednesday that during Iran's overnight attack, strikes were reported at several air bases, but no aircraft were hit.

While during the high holy days, troops would be sent home to spend time with family, the addition of infantry and armored troops from the 36th Division, including the Golani Brigade, the 188th Armored Brigade and 6th Infantry Brigade to south Lebanon, suggests that 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 in southern Lebanon. It follows the Israeli military's revelation that they had uncovered an Iran-backed Hezbollah plot to imminently repeat last year's October 7 atrocities from Israel's north.

Iran said Tuesday's aerial assault on Israel was solely aimed at military facilities but the Israeli military announced a school in Gedara had been hit, with video footage on social media showing damage to a restaurant in central Tel Aviv. Israel's KAN News reported 100 houses damaged in Hod Hasharon in central Israel. It is not clear if these damages were from direct missile hits or debris falling from intercepted projectiles.

While Iran claims to have hit three military facilities, officially, Israel is saying that most of the barrage was intercepted and the damage seen is shrapnel damage, but it is possible the damage is much wider than believed with footage showing a barrage raining down in the area of Nevatim Air Base.

Ronen Solomon, an intelligence and defense analyst, told Iran International there may a delayed response from Israel due to the religious holiday, even if that may not be the right approach to handling Iran.

“You have to strike immediately to deter them, but Israel may want to delay this and not want to escalate this at the start of the holidays. Yesterday was a traumatic event for people, staying at home in shelters when you’d usually be preparing for the new year, so maybe there is a decision to take some time.”

Another option, he says, is that the US is planning a joint attack, explaining the delay in response. “This could signal something more serious in terms of the response,” he said. “It could be part of the psychological strategy too, or a multi-dimensional attack like we saw in Lebanon, as part of a progressive operation.”

Iran said the assault was a response to Israeli killings of militant leaders including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Beni Avrahami, whose mother was born in Iran, said the attack had a different feeling to the more common assaults from Gaza. “We are all used to rocket attacks from Gaza now, but when it comes to Iran, it’s different. You don’t really know what’s coming, which changes everything.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X early on Wednesday, "Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful."

Tough talk continued from Washington which said it would work with longtime ally Israel to ensure Iran faced "severe consequences" for Tuesday's attack.

“The Israeli people are extremely resilient, but it’s a very worrying situation,” said Ilana Cohen, a resident of Tel Aviv. Speaking on Monday morning, she said, “It’s been a sleepless night, and we pray for quiet.”

The Iranian attack coincided with a terror attack which saw at least seven people killed in a mass shooting in the mixed city of Jaffa which caused chaos as roads closed and police amassed the area amid the Iran attack. Two civilians shot the two terrorists, but it has also stirred up fears of escalation on the ground.

The attackers had infiltrated Israel from Hebron in the West Bank. “It’s all a matter of luck where this could have happened,” said one Tel Aviv resident, Alon Rosenblit. “It can happen anywhere at any time so it makes things very frightening.”

Iran has been funding terror cells in the West Bank since at least last year, according to Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and now, questions will be asked as to whether the pair were lone wolves, or more of Iran's lackeys.

Although the military insists it is prepared for any scenario, the population remains deeply shaken by the events of October 7, unable to bear the thought of similar incidents overshadowing this year's holy festivals.

A strange concept but a reality for the IDF reservist combat soldier belonging to the elite Paratroopers Brigade, who jumped into action on October 7, along with his unit stationed up north against the threat of Hezbollah.

He heard ‘endless booms’ as Tehran reportedly fired more than 200 missiles in a wave of launches in retaliation for the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah’s leaders.

The IRGC announced it had struck "the heart of Israel" in retaliation for the killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC's top regional commander Abbas Nilforoushan. "If Israel responds to the Islamic Republic's operation, it will face devastating attacks," the statement said. 

While Iran launched missiles, a terrorist attack unfolded in Tel Aviv, with at least eight people killed by gunfire. It is not known at this time if those attacks were coordinated, though the timing does appear to be suspicious.

One person, a Palestinian, has been killed in Iran’s strike against Israel, according to local reports.

Israeli Military Spokesperson said Tuesday this attack was serious and will have consequences. According to CNN, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also described the attack as “ineffective”, referring to it as a “significant escalation” by Iran.

Despite the ongoing animosity between Iran and Israel, Itai feels deeply connected to his Iranian roots and culture while he sees himself as a proud Israeli ready to defend his nation -- even against his parent’s country of birth.

In an interview with Iran International, Itai said it’s important to make a clear distinction between the people of Iran and its government.

His father left Iran as a young child in the 1950s, a few short years after the establishment of the State of Israel. His mother, Diana, on the other hand, had a much different journey to Israel. Having fled Iran during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, she had to rebuild her life from scratch as a 27-year-old chemist with no command of Hebrew.

The establishment of the Islamic Republic had changed her life in a flash.

Diana’s parents stayed in Iran where her father, Itai’s grandfather, was arrested and jailed because his daughter and eventually other children escaped to Israel. It wasn’t until Itai was a teenager that he met his maternal grandparents in Israel.

Itai, who studied Iranian studies and Political Science, specializes in civil society, terrorism and the Middle East – working at nonprofit ‘NGO Monitor’ when the country is not in a time of war.

Having served in the North, fighting Hezbollah, and being of Iranian origin, he offers an inside look and unique perspective into what it’s like for Israelis and what could unfold next after the Islamic Republic's strike

How everything changed after Nasrallah

Since Oct 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been trying to maneuver a multi-front war, the Iran threat and pressures from the United States and Europe demanding a ceasefire – to put an end to the war against Hamas, said Itai over a zoom interview with Iran International.

But he said everything changed last week when Israel launched a targeted strike, killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Itai viewed this as a turning point, marking the collapse of Iran’s proxy deterrence. What Iran had reportedly invested billions in over decades was largely dismantled from top to bottom.

“I think that's a historic point. It's exactly like October 7th was a very negative historic point. But what happened in the past week is going to change the interactions in the Middle East.”

The destruction of one of Iran’s biggest proxies, he believes, changes the balance of power in the region, destroys Iran’s deterrence strategy and leaves the Iranian government vulnerable.

Prior to that, Israel’s use of pagers and walk-talkie loaded with explosives left Hezbollah operatives reeling. That’s when Itai knew the Israeli government’s policy and war tactic was changing.

“I think they're in shock. They don't understand how we destroyed their greatest asset in their international politics.”

Itai said Israel finally reached a breaking point, declaring, “enough is enough.” He sensed that Israelis felt trapped in a cycle of violence where diplomacy had no impact, and border skirmishes and missile strikes offered no resolution, leaving people on both sides stuck in a constant state of conflict.

The attacks are an effort to prevent Hezbollah from continuing to fire rockets at northern Israel, which it has been doing since the war against Hamas. Israel's airstrikes are continuing to widen, and their military started a ground invasion on Monday.

“We are removing the gloves, and we don't care what others will say. And I think it showed. We eliminated one of the biggest command structures of the biggest terror organizations in the world. We celebrated it, the Lebanese celebrated, the Syrians, the Iranians. All the people that are affected by this, by the behavior and the activities of Hezbollah,” he said.

Taking out the leader of Hezbollah, Itai said, showed a dramatic shift in Isarel’s policy to take matters into their own hands and send a clear message to its boss: the Ayatollahs in Iran.

It also sent a clear message to the United States that Israel was no longer yielding to pressure for a ceasefire and was prepared to chart its own course.

Going after someone high-level like Nasrallah also means the fear surrounding him diminished in the eyes of the public.

Itai said Nasrallah was often seen as the “big bad wolf,” and that eliminating him helped to dispel the myth around him being untouchable and in turn injected positive energy into Israeli society. Something he said Israel hasn’t felt since Oct 7.

“With all the sadness of the hostages, with all the sadness that we are still at war. And we have 200,000 people that left their homes in the north and in the south. Still, it was a boost of energy. And I think not only for us, for many other people in the region,” he added.

The Middle East, Itai said, looks to Israel for support to help dismantle the Islamic Republic, which many Arab countries also see as an extensional threat.

“Other countries look on us and understand that if we will not stop this momentum of murderous terror organizations that is raping and mutilating people, they will be next. Everyone looks upon us.”

“Iran made a big mistake tonight, and it will pay for it,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Hebrew language video statement, saying that its missile attack on the Jewish state had failed.

"The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our resolve to retaliate against our enemies ... They will understand. We will stand by the principle we have set: Whoever attacks us, we will attack them."

Earlier in the day, air raid sirens sounded across the length and breadth of Israel shortly after the US announced it had informed Israel of indications that Iran was prepared to launch the attack imminently

Israel briefly closed its air space has missile defense systems lit up the night skies over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem but some other unverified images from social media appeared to show projectiles slamming into the ground in Israel.

The United States said it was working with Israel on meting out a response.

"We will consult with the Israelis on next steps in terms of the response", US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said, saying that US naval destroyers helped counter the incoming fire.

"We have made clear that there will be consequences, severe consequences for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case," adding that the attack was "defeated and ineffective".

The Israeli military put the number of incoming Iranian missiles at around 200.

Local news reports indicated a Palestinian in the Jericho area of the Israeli-occupied West Bank was killed after the Israel military said it had no immediate indications of any injuries or deaths.

US Vice President and Democratic Presidential hopeful warned Iran or its armed allies against attacking US forces in the region.

"I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist militias," Harris told reporters. "We will never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend US forces and interests against Iran and Iran backed terrorists".

"Legal, rational, and legitimate"

Iran described the assault as a legitimate response to Israeli attacks on its citizens and interests.

"Iran’s legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime—which involved targeting Iranian nationals and interests and infringing upon the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran—has been duly carried out," Iran's mission to the United Nations said in a post on X.

"Should the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue. Regional states and the Zionists’ supporters are advised to part ways with the regime."

In the run-up to the attack, US Central Command, the military grouping responsible for the Middle East, announced that three more aircraft squadrons including F-15, F-16, and A-10 war planes were arriving in the region and that one has already arrived.

Oil prices jumped nearly $6 dollars from session lows to top $72 a barrel before settling in later trading, in a sign of trepidation about the key oil transit way through the Strait of Hormuz straddling Iran.

Israel launched what it called a limited ground incursion into Lebanon on Monday which it said aims to dislodge Hezbollah from border villages firing rockets at Northern Israeli communities.

Israel has for two weeks been landing increasingly devastating blows against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah in aerial bombardment on Beirut on Friday.

The attacks have killed up to a 1,000 people including many civilians but also much of Hezbollah's senior leadership and rank and file fighters.

A top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion Tehran in July in an assassination widely blamed on Israel.

Iran in April launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in its first direct attack on Israeli territory in retaliation for an Israeli air strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus.

The United States, Western and Arab powers helped Israel fend off that attack.

Iran and its armed allies throughout the region have been confronting Israel since Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.

The deadly incident in the restive southeastern region was the latest in a string of attacks on security forces widely blamed on armed Sunni militants.

Unknown assailants killed an IRGC commander in the city of Bent named by state media as Parviz Kadkhodaei in an armed attack on Tuesday. The attack also claimed the lives of Yousef Shirani, head of the city council, and two conscript soldiers.

In a separate incident, two officers were killed when armed men opened fire on a police vehicle in Khash County.

Meanwhile, Haalvsh, a group monitoring rights violations in the region, reported that armed men targeted a military vehicle on the Jakigur highway in Rasak County. Shortly after, the insurgent Sunni Baluch group Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for the attack.

Recent attacks in Sistan and Baluchestan have intensified.

On Monday, Reza Shojaei, commander of the Sistan-Baluchestan Border Guard, announced that Mehdi Balouchi, a member of the Jakigur Border Guard unit, was killed in a clash with unidentified armed individuals, while two others were injured. The attack occurred during the transport of "food rations and support for border guards" near Pashamak village in Rasak County, according to a local news report.

On Sunday, domestic news agencies reported sporadic clashes across the province, with unknown gunmen involved in multiple shootings.

Jaish al-Adl, a group labeled a "terrorist organization" by Iran, Pakistan, and the United States, claimed responsibility for all the attacks.

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported the death of Amir Mohammad Amiri, an Iranian border guard in the Makki Hirmand area, in a clash with armed individuals. In another attack, Ramin Velayati, a member of the Special Forces Command in Khash County, was killed by gunmen. Gunmen also opened fire on a police station in Iranshahr, injuring at least one police officer.

The escalation follows heightened tensions in mid-January when the Revolutionary Guards launched a missile strike on Jaish al-Adl positions within Pakistan.

The incident strained relations between Iran and Pakistan, leading to retaliatory actions by Islamabad within Iranian borders. However, both nations have since declared that tensions have been resolved.