How are Iranians reacting to the missile attack on Israel?

Asked by reporters if the Jewish state should hit at the disputed nuclear program after Iran's greatest-ever attack on its soil, Biden said, "no".

An international consensus among world powers in the G7 group was that retaliation was warranted but should be limited, he added.

“All seven of us agree that they have a right to respond, but they have to respond proportionally."

Iran launched around 180 missiles at Israel on Wednesday, the Israeli military said. The attack was largely repulsed with US and Western help but several missiles hit their mark, including an Israeli air base.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told an emergency Security Council meeting on Wednesday that an Israeli riposte was inevitable.

"Let me be clear, Israel will defend itself. We will act," he said. "And let me assure you, the consequences Iran will face for their actions will be far greater than they could ever have imagined."

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said the attack was in response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, warning Israel that it will strike again if there was an Israeli response.

Israel was aided in fending off a previous one-off missile fusillade from Iran in April by the United States, Western and Arab partners, after which Washington urged Israel to hold off on a counterattack.

But the US government is not trying to dissuade Israel from hitting back this time, CNN said citing two senior US officials.

"No one’s saying don’t respond. No one’s saying ‘take the win'," one source said, referring to Washington's argument to Israel in April.

War or Peace

Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of forcing his country to react, saying that Tehran “is not looking for war but looking forward to peace”.

"We were asked to maintain calm. For the sake of peace, we have maintained self-restraint,” he said at a joint press conference with the Emir of Qatar in Doha. “If [Israel] acts, we will react more fiercely and harshly."

Israel declared Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata for what it said was insufficient rejection of Iran's attack.

Speaking at the Security Council later in the day, Guterres condemned the Iranian barrage on Israel the previous day, adding that the “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence must stop.”

“Time is running out,” he warned.

Meanwhile Israel announced the deaths in combat of eight Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, days after it launched an invasion of the country it said aimed at stopping rocket fire on its border communities by Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

Israel has landed devastating blows against Hezbollah, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah in an aerial bombardment on Beirut on Friday along with much of its top leadership.

The attacks have killed up to a 1,000 people including many civilians while displacing nearly a million people.

A top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion Tehran in July in an assassination widely blamed on Israel, raising Iran's ire but not immediately drawing any response at that time.

The country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired over 180 missiles towards Israel, claiming retaliation for the assassination of several key figures, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan.

The attack's minimal physical impact on Israel quickly became a source of online ridicule among many Iranians.

Instead of rallying behind their government's military display, many Iranians responded with humor, highlighting a widespread sense of skepticism and frustration toward the rulers of their country.

In one example, a viral video of an apparent failed missile launch in Zanjan, 300 kilometers from Tehran, became a source of widespread amusement. The seemingly malfunctioning missile, which crashed after launch, was humorously compared to a broken water heater, with jokes circulating about selling it for scrap metal.

Another widely shared meme depicted Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holding a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher. Instead of hitting Israel, the RPG backfired and struck Iran, serving as a visual metaphor for the country’s perceived self-sabotage.

In one of the more scathing social media exchanges, hardline MP Hamid Rasaie tweeted, asking if others believed that former IRGC Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah were the ones who launched the missiles. A respondent sarcastically shot back, "Of course not! We don’t use meth like you!"—implying that only someone disconnected from reality, or under the influence of drugs, would think such a thing.

Iranians also found humor in the timing of the missile launch. One user noted that Tuesday's attack took place in the early evening, in contrast to the April strike, which happened in the early morning hours. The user quipped, “Good for President Pezeshkian! Under Raisi, we had to stay awake until 6 in the morning.”

A video of a celebration in the religious city of Qom, where supporters of the Islamic government gathered to cheer the missile attack, became another target of mockery. During the fireworks display, some fireworks accidentally exploded within the crowd, prompting one user to joke, “The casualties from this celebration were higher than those from the attack on Israel.”

Even Iran’s top military leaders were not spared from public scorn. A clip showing IRGC chief Hossein Salami and other commanders cheering as missiles were launched went viral, with many mocking their childlike excitement. “Look at him, getting excited like a donkey given a treat,” one commenter wrote, referring to Salami’s apparent amazement at the successful missile firing. “The fool—it’s the first time in his life he’s seen how a missile works, and yet he’s called a commander.”

Some users also sarcastically referenced the missile attack's stated goal of avenging Palestinian deaths. After reports emerged that a Palestinian man had been the only person killed by shrapnel from an Iranian missile, one user shared the news with the caption: “Palestinians after this attack: ‘Guys, it’s okay, can you not take revenge for us anymore?’”

Instead, he focused on Israel's simmering conflict with Lebanon and the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, assassinated by Israel last month, stating, “I certainly have remarks regarding Lebanon and everything related to this great and beloved martyr (Nasrallah), which I will share in the near future, God willing.”

In an open and seemingly unprovoked attack on Western democracies, Khamenei accused the US and European nations of being "the root of the problem in our region—which creates conflicts, wars, concerns, and hostilities".

He said: "If they reduce their interference in this region, undoubtedly these conflicts, wars, and confrontations will completely vanish. The countries in the region can manage themselves, govern their own areas, and live together in peace, safety, and well-being.”

Unusually, he did not mention Iran's archenemy Israel in the blast.

Khamenei’s comments come at a significant moment, as there are reports that he will lead Friday prayers in Tehran this week for the first time in nearly five years. An announcement from a manager at Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Fars website confirmed that Khamenei will personally deliver the sermon, a responsibility he typically delegates to representatives such as Ahmad Khatami and Kazem Sedighi. It is significant as historically, Khamenei only steps in during critical times or significant occasions.

The last time Khamenei led Friday prayers, considered the most holy day of the week for Muslims, was on January 17, 2020, the first time in eight years. His sermon occurred during a particularly tense period, just after the killing of Iranian IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike and the subsequent downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane by Iran's military.

If confirmed, the timing of Khamenei’s appearance is noteworthy due to Iran’s second attack on Israel on Tuesday and recent killing of Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike which has seen Iran's biggest proxy hit most drastically by Israel since its creation. Around 1,500 operatives are believed to have been taken out of action after a mass infiltration of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to the group. Its top commanders have also been eliminated in a wave of assassinations.

Now, according to reports from Reuters, Khamenei has been moved to a secure location within Iran amid heightened security following Nasrallah’s shock assassination.

On Tuesday night, after the launch of nearly 200 missiles at Israel and the Israeli prime minister's promise of strong retaliation, reports indicated that he remained in a secure location. However, he appeared for a public meeting on Wednesday.

Iran launched over 180 missiles toward Israel on Tuesday, claiming it was a response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others, including Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, killed in an air strike in Tehran in July.

Khamenei also led the funeral prayers for the slain Hamas figure, in addition to leading prayers for former president Ebrahim Raisi who died in a mysterious helicopter crash earlier this year.

Across multiple locations in Israel, barrages of missiles streaked through the sky as sirens wailed throughout the country. At least one person was killed in the West Bank, with several others injured during the attack, according to the Israeli military.

Hours after the assault, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned: “Iran made a big mistake tonight - and it will pay for it. The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies.”

The US also vowed that it would work with longtime ally Israel to ensure Iran faced "severe consequences" for Tuesday's attack.

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.