IRAN WARNS ISRAEL AGAINST RETAILATION

Biden ordered the US military to aid the Jewish nation's defence and shoot down missiles

TEHRAN

IRAN's Revolutionary Guards threatened to carry out "crushing attacks" against arch-foe Israel if it retaliates for a missile attack by the Islamic republic on Tuesday.

"If the Zionist regime reacts to Iranian operations, it will face crushing attacks," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency. The IRGC said the attack was "in accordance with the United Nations Charter".

It said it came "after a period of restraint" following an "attack on the sovereignty" of Iran - a reference to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July.

Late Tuesday, Iranian forces fired a barrage of missiles which targeted Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, state media reported.

The United States had earlier warned of an imminent Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel, and said it would have "severe" consequences for Tehran. Iranian media carried online footage of what they said were missiles being fired at Israel.

State television played upbeat music over the footage as its newscaster spoke of "the brave Iranian people".

Tuesday's attack was Iran's second on Israel in the past six months, after a missile and drone attack in April in retaliation for a deadly Israeli air strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus. Nearly all of the missiles and drones fired in that attack were intercepted by Israel or its allies.