Israel's Netanyahu says Iran will 'pay' after missile attack

 Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have said they launched cruise missiles at targets "deep inside" Israel on Wednesday.

In a statement, the group said they had "carried out a military operation targeting military sites deep inside the Zionist entity (Israel) in occupied Palestine with three Quds 5 cruise missiles." 

There was no immediate confirmation of the attack by the Israeli military, though the Houthis claimed the missiles had hit their intended targets.

The Houthis and the Israeli military have sporadically traded fire since last November, when the Yemeni militants began attacking shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in what they say is support for Palestinians in Gaza.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on Iran and Hezbollah to stop their attacks on Israel "immediately." 

"The Iranian missile attacks on Israel are to be condemned in the strongest possible terms," he said in a statement.

"There's a risk of a further escalation of the already tense situation in the Middle East. Iran risks setting the entire region on fire — this must be prevented at all costs. Hezbollah and Iran must stop their attacks on Israel immediately." 

Scholz used the opportunity to press for a truce, saying: "Together with our partners, we will continue to work to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah."

The chancellor also highlighted the upcoming anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terror attacks, adding that "a few days before the anniversary of Hamas' terrible attack on Israel, our thoughts are with the hostages and their families. Their fate must be an incentive for everyone to reach an agreement based on the proposals made by US President [Joe] Biden."

Earlier this year, Biden outlined a plan that would halt the fighting while allowing the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the delivery of more aid to Gaza.

Hezbollahhas claimed that it fought with Israeli troops who tried to encroach on Lebanese territory and pushed them back.

The Iran-backed militant group said they encountered "an Israeli enemy infantry force that tried to infiltrate into the village of Adaisseh ... and clashed with them ... and forced them to withdraw," a statement read.

Hezbollah also claimed to have targeted "a large infranty force" across the Israeli border in Misgav Am with "rockets and artillery."

These claims have not been confirmed by Israel or independently verified.

Iranian Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri warned that Tehran would target "all infrastucture" in Israel if its territory is attacked.

Speaking on state television, Bagheri said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard was prepared to continue missile attacks with "multiplied intensity."

His comments came after Iran fired around 200 missiles at Israel late on Tuesday.

He said if Israel "is not contained by America and Europe and intends to continue such crimes, or do anything against our sovereignty or territorial integrity, tonight's operation will be repeated with much higher magnitude and we will hit all their infrastructure."

Bagheri added that Iran had avoided targeting Israeli civilians although it was "completely feasible."

French President Emmanuel Macron put out a statement condemning Iran's new attacks on Israel in the "strongest possible terms."

Macron urged that "Hezbollah cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population" and asked Israel to end its military operations as soon as possible. 

He also added that France had "mobilized" its military resources in the Middle East to counter Tehran.

Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also condemned Iran's attacks on Israel, and said they were "unacceptable."

"We will condemn this strongly. But at the same time, we would like to cooperate (with the US) to defuse the situation and prevent it from escalating into a full-on war," he said, after a phone call with US President Joe Biden.

The Israeli military on Tuesday evening told the residents of southern Beirut to evacuate, saying it was planning to attack Hezbollah installations there.

Israeli forces have bombarded southern Beirut in particular in recent weeks, turning it into a new focus of the conflict that began almost a year ago.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said that 55 people had been killed and 156 wounded from Israeli attacks on Tuesday alone.

Early on Wednesday, the Israeli military said it is "currently striking Hezbollah terror targets in Beirut."

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi described Tuesday's missile launches as an act of "self-defense" in accordance with UN law.

"Earlier this evening, we exercised self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, targeting solely military and security sites in charge of genocide in Gaza and Lebanon," he wrote on X.

The term "genocide" has been contested by Israel in regards to its activities in the Middle East, with Israel saying it takes care to protect civilian life in its military operations.  

While Iran has accused Israel of carrying out attacks inside Iran before, most of Israel's recent strikes have been against Iranian-backed groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Araghchi said that Tehran exercised "tremendous restraint" to "give space for a cease-fire in Gaza."

He went on to say that no further attacks were planned.

"Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would "pay" after it fired almost 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday.

"Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it," Netanyahu said hours after the attack, and warned: "Whoever attacks us, we attack them."

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made similar comments, saying: "Iran has not learned a simple lesson — those who attack the state of Israel, pay a heavy price."

US President Joe Biden said that the US was discussing with Israel how to respond to the attack.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also is also the Democratic presidential nominee, called Iran a "destabilizing, dangerous force in the Middle East" and said "I fully support President Biden's order for the US military to shoot down Iranian missiles targeting Israel."  

Meanwhile, figures in the international community continued calls for deescalation.

"The EU condemns in the strongest terms Iran's attack against Iran's attack against Israel," EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a statement on X, while adding that "this cycle of attacks risks fueling an uncontrollable regional escalation. We call on all parties to exert maximum restraint."  

"I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "This must stop. We absolutely need a cease-fire."

You can read about developments in the Iranian missile strikes here.

ab/wd (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)