Israeli security body assesses Iran could order ballistic missile attack within hours

TEL AVIV, Israel — JERUSALEM — An Israeli security assessment on Sunday evening concluded that Iran could order a ballistic missile attack on Israel within hours, according to the Hebrew-language outlet Walla. The Israeli military is closely monitoring military activity inside Iran after four missiles were launched toward the Jordanian city of Aqaba, the report said. The Israeli Air Force fired two interceptors from the Iron Dome system to prevent missile debris from falling onto Israeli territory. Security sources told the outlet that Iran may have intended the Aqaba launch as a deterrent message to Israel, but that Tel Aviv interpreted the situation differently. The sources said the security environment differs from that of 2023 and that Israeli policy is following a harder line. The report also said senior Iranian officials could decide to fire ballistic missiles deep into Israel in response to recent military developments. The assessment came after explosions were heard in the Israeli city of Eilat following the Aqaba launches. The Israeli military said no casualties or damage were recorded and that home-front instructions had not changed. Separately, explosions were reported in the Iranian cities of Bandar Abbas and Abadan, as well as in Kuwait. The U.S. Embassy in Amman advised American citizens to avoid Aqaba's airport and port, while Jordanian authorities said no confirmed threat required the evacuation of critical facilities in the city.