### Tensions Escalate as Iran Launches 180 Ballistic Missiles at Israel

In a significant escalation of hostilities, Iran launched at least 180 ballistic missiles targeting major Israeli cities on Tuesday evening. The Iranian attack, orchestrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was framed as a retaliation for the deaths of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon following Israeli assaults and the assassination of leaders from the IRGC, Hamas, and Hezbollah. According to the IRGC, the missiles targeted three military bases in Tel Aviv, employing the Fatah hypersonic ballistic missiles for the first time, a claim that remains unverified by independent sources such as Al Jazeera.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Iranian missile strikes, vowing that Iran would face severe repercussions. "Iran has made a big mistake and will pay for it," Netanyahu declared. Meanwhile, the United States has pledged its unwavering support to Israel in responding to the attack. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the joint actions taken by the U.S. and Israel to thwart the Iranian offensive and warned of serious consequences for Iran.

As Iran and Israel edge closer to direct conflict after years of proxy battles, their military capabilities are coming under close scrutiny. Iran maintains a robust force with 610,000 active personnel and a reserve force of 350,000. Its military includes over 10,513 battle tanks, more than 6,798 artillery guns, and around 640 armored personnel carriers. The Iranian air force has 312 combat-capable aircraft, and their navy includes 17 tactical submarines and 68 patrol and coastal combatants.

In comparison, Israel has 169,500 active military personnel and a reserve force of 465,000. Israel's arsenal includes around 400 battle tanks, 530 artillery guns, and over 1,190 personal carriers. The Israeli air force operates 345 combat-capable aircraft and 43 attack helicopters, while its navy includes five submarines and 49 patrol and coastal combatants.

Defensively, Israel relies heavily on the Iron Dome system, which is reputed to have intercepted many of the Iranian missiles on Tuesday night. This system utilizes radar to identify incoming threats and interceptor missiles to neutralize them if they pose a danger to populated areas. Additionally, Israel employs other missile defense systems such as David's Sling and the Arrow System for medium and long-range threats, respectively.

Iran's air defense is equally diversified, featuring various short to long-range missile systems like the Russian-manufactured S-300s and local Bavar-373. Recently, Iran deployed the short-range Azarakhsh system, which uses infrared detection and radar to intercept targets.

In terms of missile arsenals, Iran's include the Tondar 69 with a range of 150 km to the Khorramshahr and Sejjil missiles with ranges up to 2,000 km. Conversely, Israel possesses small, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, including the Jericho-3, which ranges between 4,800 km and 6,500 km. Israel is also estimated to have around 90 nuclear warheads, while Iran, which has no confirmed nuclear weapons, operates an advanced nuclear program with multiple facilities and research centers.

This latest development signifies a dangerous escalation in hostilities, raising concerns about the potential for a broader conflict involving these two powerful adversaries.