Iranian Missile Attack Leaves Region on Edge, Wondering What Comes Next

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed Iran ‘will pay’ for its Oct. 1 ballistic missile barrage against Israel.

People visit the site of the remains of an Iranian missile in the Negev desert near Arad in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on Israel. Israel vowed to make Iran 'pay' for firing a barrage of missiles at its territory, with Tehran warning on Oct. 2 it would launch an even bigger attack if it is targeted. Menahem Kahana/AFP

Iran ratcheted up tensions throughout the Middle East on Oct. 1 as its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired about 180 ballistic missiles at targets across Israel. Now military planners, diplomats, and foreign policy analysts are trying to gauge how Israel can respond and how much further Iran is prepared to escalate.

Israel reported intercepting many of the Iranian ballistic missiles, with help from the United States, the UK, France, and Jordan. Still, some of the missiles struck locations in Israel.