Israel has sworn to retaliate following Iran’s missile strike on Tuesday, an incident that Iran claims was in response to Israeli air attacks in Lebanon and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The White House warned that Iran would face “serious consequences.” Global leaders criticized the attack, cautioning that it could escalate tensions in the region into a larger conflict.

As hostilities rise between the two nations, fears grow about a potential broader war in the Middle East. Here’s what to anticipate moving forward.

What occurred between Israel and Iran?

On Tuesday, Iran launched missiles at Tel Aviv and central Israel, leading civilians to seek shelter as explosions echoed across Jerusalem the day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli military, reported that over 180 ballistic missiles were launched from Iran. Most were intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, according to a Pentagon spokesperson. Two U.S. Navy destroyers also fired about a dozen interceptors.

A man was confirmed killed in Jericho in the West Bank, but no other casualties had been reported from the attack as of Wednesday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed, without providing evidence, that 90% of the missiles struck their intended targets.

In a separate incident on the same day, six individuals, including two assailants, lost their lives in a shooting in Jaffa, an area of Tel Aviv.

What comes next for Israel and Iran?

The area is on high alert for a possible Israeli counterstrike after officials from both Israel and the U.S. indicated Iran will face repercussions for the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran would “pay” for its actions and declared Israel’s commitment to hold its adversaries accountable.

“This evening, Iran made a serious mistake – and it will face the consequences,” he stated during a security cabinet meeting.

The U.S. has pledged its support for Israel’s forthcoming actions. While monitoring the situation with his national security team, President Biden noted he has instructed the military to assist Israel. He remarked that a U.S. response “remains to be seen.”

On Tuesday following the strike, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan affirmed, “We have made it clear that there will be severe consequences for this attack, and we will collaborate with Israel to ensure that.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian threatened on Wednesday that if Israel “does not cease its offenses, it will encounter stronger reactions.”

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard warned that should Israel retaliate, the response from Iran would be even “more devastating.” The Iranian military asserted that an Israeli strike would lead to substantial damage to Israeli infrastructure.

What preceded the Iranian missile strike on Israel?

The missile attack from Iran was set against the backdrop of weeks of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese soil and Hezbollah missile attacks on northern Israel.

Earlier that Tuesday, Israel launched a ground offensive into Lebanon, marking the first such action since 2006. Israel described the operation as “limited, localized, and targeted” aimed at Hezbollah positions.

The military stated that they would enhance their presence in Lebanon with additional infantry and armored units. Hezbollah announced that its fighters were engaging the Israeli forces in the border town of Maroun al-Ras on Wednesday.

Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah intensified following attacks on the Israeli military’s communication systems on September 17 and 18.

On Friday, Israel executed an airstrike in Beirut that killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, using a U.S.-manufactured 2,000-pound bomb, as reported by CNN.

How does Hezbollah fit into the Israel-Iran tensions?

For nearly a year, Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, has ramped up rocket fire into northern Israel. Tension in that area has escalated since the October 7 assault by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities. Israel retaliated with military strikes on Gaza, which have reportedly caused approximately 40,000 Palestinian deaths according to the Gazan Health Ministry managed by Hamas.

U.S. officials express concern that rising tensions could ignite a broader conflict across the Middle East and have been actively seeking to broker a ceasefire.

What were the reactions from others

International Reactions to the Iran Missile Attack on Israel

Various global leaders denounced the missile strike and expressed concerns over the potential escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran.

Other Western allies of Israel quickly condemned the assault and reaffirmed their commitment to support Israel. “I fully condemn this act by the Iranian regime aimed at harming innocent Israelis, intensifying this extremely perilous situation, and bringing the region closer to crisis,” stated U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the strike “in the strongest possible terms” and called for de-escalation.

“Alongside our partners, we will persist in efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah,” Scholz expressed on X.

China voiced its deep concern regarding the attack, opposing the rise in tensions and the “infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.”

“China perceives the ongoing violence in Gaza as the fundamental issue causing the current unrest in the Middle East. All parties should urgently pursue a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire,” a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry conveyed in a statement.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian Kremlin, urged “restraint on all sides” and denounced “any actions that result in civilian casualties.”