IRAN strikes Israel as WW3 kicks off

Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, causing sirens to sound all over the country, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Orange fire illuminated the sky over Israel as NBC News crews in both Tel Aviv and across the border in Tyre, Lebanon, viewed the apparent missiles being fired. Smaller streaks of light were also seen, appearing to come from Israel's aerial defense system as it tried to ward off the attack.

Booms were also heard in video captured by NBC News, but it's unclear whether the sound erupted from clashing missiles in the air or from Iranian missiles landing in Israel.

Iran said it concluded the attack roughly an hour after the IDF first alerted that the missiles had been fired.

Approximately 180 missiles were fired toward Israeli territory, the IDF said after the attack. No fatalities were reported, but Israel's emergency services said it had treated two people with minor injuries caused by shrapnel.

U.S. officials warned earlier in the day that Iran was preparing a ballistic missile strike targeting Israel, a senior White House official and a Defense Department official told NBC News on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden had authorized the military to aid Israel's defense against Iranian attacks and to "shoot down missiles targeting Israel."

Jordan allowed U.S. forces to fly over its airspace to shoot down Iranian missiles, a U.S. official and a senior Jordanian official confirmed to NBC News.