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The Federal Government, revealed that plans are underway to evacuate Nigerians in Lebanon as tension between Israel and Iran continue to escalate with Iran firing 180 ballistic missiles at Israel.
In a statement on X.com, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, through his handle, @DOlusegun, said: “Alert! All Nigerians in Lebanon are expected to get in touch with the Nigerian mission for profiling and documentation and subsequent evacuation.”
Iran, on Tuesday, launched a barrage of missiles at Israel in response to the killings of Iran-backed militant leaders, sending Israelis to shelters and prompting alarm across the region.
“A short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement, as sirens sounded across Israel, AFP reports.
After about an hour, the military announced there was no longer a threat, and “it was decided that it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas across the country,” with a “large number” of Iranian missiles intercepted.
The Times of Israel, the Israel Defence Forces said it intercepted the 180 ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel on Tuesday evening.
Israel’s air defences were “effective,” the IDF said.
It was Iran’s second on Israel after a missile and drone attack in April in response to a deadly Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
AFP journalists reported hearing explosions over Jerusalem, while rescuers said two people were lightly injured by shrapnel in central Israel.
Iran’s official news agency IRNA said the Islamic Republic had launched “a missile attack on Tel Aviv,” Israel’s commercial hub.
Its Revolutionary Guards Corps said the attack was in response to Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, last week as well as the death of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in a Tehran bombing widely blamed on Israel.
Israeli airspace was closed with all flights diverted, a spokesman for the airport authority said.
Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, which lie between Iran and Israel, closed their airspace too.
AFP reports that United States President, Joe Biden, ordered the military to “aid Israel’s defence” and shoot down Iranian missiles, the White House said.
