Iran launches ballistic missile attack on Israel, civilians ordered into bomb shelters

Iran has fired ballistic missiles at Israel as civilians rushed to shelter sites across the country, the IDF said.

Sirens flared Tuesday afternoon as Iranian missiles targeted central and southern Israel in Tehran’s first direct attack on the Jewish state since April, according to the Israeli military.

Israeli media reported 102 ballistic missiles — capable of reaching Israel in 12 minutes — were headed toward the Jewish state.

The US has moved additional military assets, including fighter jets, to the region — and vowed to help defend the Jewish state against the attack.

“We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack,” the official said. “A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” an official said.

In April, Tehran fired more than 330 drones and missiles against Israel — nearly all of which were intercepted, with help from the US and Jordan.

If they use only ballistic missiles this time, it would give the US and its allies less time to intercept the attack, a US official told Axios.

Ballistic missiles also fly higher and faster and are much harder to shoot down.

“The attack from Iran may be on a wide scale,” the IDF warned — and urged Israelis to follow directions on taking shelter.

The US previously mobilized more troops in the area, as well as extending the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group, to help deflect any incoming attacks from Iran.

At least one additional aircraft squadron had already arrived in the region as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, with two others arriving later in the day, according to US Central Command. The planes include F-15E and F-16 fighter jets, which are capable of intercepting missiles, as well as A-10 attack aircraft.

Israel Defense Force spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel is aware of the warning. He said there were no aerial threats fired from Iran as of Tuesday morning.

Hagari said the IDF is ready to engage in defensive and offensive strategies in the face of such an attack, echoing America’s warning that there would be consequences.

The IDF and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged the Jewish nation’s residents to follow the “Home Front Command,” a safety protocol calling on civilians to stay within 90 seconds of protective shelters in case of an attack.

The directive was issued for all of central Israel and Jerusalem on Tuesday, and it will stay in effect until Oct. 5, according to the IDF.

“What I ask of you is two things,” Netanyahu said in a statement to the public. “One, to strictly obey the directives of the Home Front Command. It saves lives.

“And second, to stand together,” he added. “We will stand firm together in the trying days ahead. Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will win.”

The US Embassy in Jerusalem urged all Americans in Israel to “shelter in place until further notice,” according to a security alert issued Tuesday.

The alert said the embassy may also “further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel,” including Jerusalem and the West Bank as events unfold.

“The US Embassy in Jerusalem reminds US citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire and unmanned aircraft system UAS intrusions, often take place without warning,” the embassy said.

“The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events.”

Nearly two dozen border communities in Lebanon were evacuated by Tuesday — before the IDF began its operations in Lebanon.

While the terror group denied that Israeli troops have crossed the border, the IDF said it is active in the area while revealing it had already carried out raids in Lebanon going back nearly a year.

Israel has backed up its claims with videos of such operations, but the IDF’s past and current missions in Lebanon have yet to be independently verified as people flee the conflict zone.

Hagari said the operations are “localized ground raids” aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s missile launching facilities and weapons cache, with the troops staying in southern Lebanon.

“We’re not going to Beirut,” he said. “We’re only going to areas next to our border and will do what is necessary to dismantle and demolish Hezbollah infrastructure.”

The goal of the raids is to ensure Hezbollah no longer has the means to continue its daily missile strikes against northern Israel that has left tens of thousands displaced since Oct. 8.

With Post wires