Iran missile attack: Israel says no more threat 'for now', vows retaliation 'at time & place of our choosing'

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said he was not aware of any casualties from the missile volley, while noting that there were a few hits in the centre of the country and in the south

Israel vowed to retaliate following an Iranian missile attack on Tuesday, with army spokesman saying it would respond at the time and place of its choosing, declining to specify how and when Israel would respond.

"This attack will have consequences. We have plans, and we will operate at the place and time we decide," said Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. The spokesman said he was not aware of any casualties from the missile volley, while noting that there were a few hits in the centre of the country and in the south.

"We are on high alert both defensively and offensively," Hagari said in a TV broadcast. "We will defend the citizens of the State of Israel.

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Israel has said it will continue to strike Hezbollah until it is safe for citizens displaced from homes near the Lebanon border to return. Hezbollah has vowed to keep firing rockets into Israel until there is a cease-fire in Gaza.

Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles into Israel on Tuesday, sharply escalating a conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas that began nearly a year ago and threatening to push the Middle East closer toward a regionwide war.

Alarms sounded across Israel and explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley after Israelis piled into bomb shelters.

Before Iran's attack, Israel had landed a series of devastating blows in recent weeks against Hezbollah's leadership in Lebanon. It then ratcheted up the pressure on the militant group — which has been firing rockets into Israel since the war in Gaza began — by launching what it said is a limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon.

Israel and Iran have fought a shadow war for years, but rarely have they come into direct conflict.

Israel considers Iran to be its greatest foe -- citing Iran's repeated calls for Israel's destruction, its support for Arab militant groups and its nuclear program. Iran denies Israeli accusations that it is developing a nuclear weapon.

(With Agency inputs)