Israel could attack Iranian oil refineries in retaliation for Tuesday night’s attack, in which Tehran launched an estimated 180 ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv and other targets across the country, dramatically escalating the conflict between the two countries.

US website Axios has reported that Israeli officials are considering a “significant retaliation” against the Iranian attack within days, which could target oil production facilities in Iran and other strategic locations.

Israeli officials are believed to be discussing with the US on how to tailor their military response, which could push the Middle East closer to the brink of a regional war.

Analysts have also suggested that Israel could target Iranian nuclear program facilities, although the US may want to rule out that option due to the likelihood that it would further escalate the conflict.

“There will be serious consequences for this attack and we will work with Israel to make that happen,” US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday evening, adding that the US would have “continued consultations with the Israelis” this afternoon. and tonight”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security cabinet meeting Tuesday evening to discuss a military response to the attack. According to Axios, Israeli officials agreed in principle to launching retaliatory measures, but were required to consult with U.S. officials on U.S. Central Command’s defensive cooperation, as well as the supply of ammunition and other operational support.

“Iran made a big mistake tonight – and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu said late Tuesday at a meeting of his security cabinet. “The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to take revenge on our enemies… They will understand.”

US lawmakers have backed an attack on Iranian oil production. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he would “urge the Biden administration to coordinate an overwhelming response with Israel, starting with Iran’s oil refining ability.” In a statement, he said Iran’s oil refineries should be hit “hard and hard.”

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that they will send additional troops to take part in ground raids in southern Lebanon, as part of the largest operation in that country since the 2006 war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

In a message on Telegram, the IDF said it would send the 36th Division, including troops from three brigades, to participate in the “limited, localized, targeted attacks on Hezbollah terror targets and terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon that began on Monday” .

“The soldiers are accompanied by the IAF and the 282nd Artillery Brigade,” the announcement said.

Israeli media have reported that around 100 rockets have been launched into Israel from the direction of Lebanon so far on Wednesday, amid reports of the first direct clashes between Israeli ground forces and Hezbollah.

So far, Israel has only deployed the 98th Division to carry out attacks on southern Lebanon, making the operation much smaller than the raids the army has launched in Gaza. The latest Israeli deployment indicates that Israel could intensify its operation there.

Israel continued to carry out airstrikes on targets in Beirut overnight, and photos showed smoke rising over the city at dawn. Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip also killed at least 60 Palestinians overnight, including at a school housing displaced families, medics in the area said.

IDF spokesmen overnight issued new warnings to residents of villages in southern Lebanon and some residents of Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate, saying their homes would be targeted because they were close to suspected Hezbollah facilities.

The Iranian missile salvo targeted several Israeli air bases, but the attack caused few casualties. One person – a Palestinian man from near the West Bank city of Jericho – was killed Tuesday evening when shrapnel from a downed Iranian missile fell on him as he crossed an intersection. Two more people are said to have been injured.

Most of the Iranian missiles appeared to have been intercepted by Israeli and US air defenses and Tehran appeared to target several military bases, meaning the missiles largely fell outside densely populated areas.

Guardian reporters in Jerusalem witnessed dozens of rockets flying over Israel’s capitals in a massive attack shortly after 7:30 p.m., with the rockets’ engines clearly visible from below.

Air sirens sounded across Israel as the rockets, many of which were intercepted by Israeli air defenses, shot across the night sky in red and gold streaks. Some rockets, still intact, appeared to continue toward the coast and central Israel amid the sound of distant explosions.

In the early hours of Wednesday, Beirut’s southern suburbs were hit by at least five Israeli attacks, after the Israeli military issued multiple evacuation orders for buildings in the city and said it was targeting Hezbollah sites.

Minutes before Iran launched the attack, at least two gunmen in the Israeli coastal city of Jaffa launched an attack that killed six people and injured 10, including an IDF soldier. This raised further concerns that the increasing cycle of violence could lead to terrorist attacks in Israel.