Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Iran firing ballistic missiles at Israel, new leadership in Japan and Mexico, and South Korea’s weaponry might.

Tehran Attacks Israel

Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel late Tuesday, vowing to attack again “harder” if Israel responds. Air raid sirens sounded across the country, including in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as Israeli officials ordered residents to immediately shelter in place. These orders were lifted within the hour. At least one person was killed in the West Bank city of Jericho, and two others were lightly wounded in Tel Aviv.

Iranian state media said some of the missiles targeted Israeli tanks located at the Netzarim Corridor, a zone splitting northern Gaza from the south, as part of Israel’s offensive in the enclave. It is unclear whether this effort was successful. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel’s air defense systems intercepted most of Iran’s missiles; however, several landed in central and southern Israel. This attack “will have consequences,” Hagari said. “We have plans, and we will act in the time and place we decide.” He did not specify when that might be or what retaliation might look like.

Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement saying that Tuesday’s attack was in response to Israeli forces killing Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran in July, as well as the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Beirut last month. Israel is widely believed to be behind all three assassinations but has only claimed responsibility for Nasrallah’s death. Iran backs both Hamas and Hezbollah.

This was a “legal, rational, and legitimate response” to Israel targeting Iranian nationals and infringing upon Tehran’s national sovereignty, Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations posted on X on Tuesday. Should Israel “dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue.”

U.S. President Joe Biden directed the U.S. military “to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles that are targeting Israel.” This week, the U.S. Defense Department announced that it would boost the number of fighter jets in the region and direct the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to remain in the Middle East. The U.S. military’s F-16 and F-15E fighter jets helped Israel intercept Iran’s missile and drone attack in April.

In a call on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant “discussed the serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel,” according to a Pentagon readout. And U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that “support for Israel’s security is ironclad,” adding that Washington will coordinate with Israel on any future response.

Following Iran’s attack, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated pleas for a cease-fire in Lebanon, warning that escalation into an all-out war must be avoided “at all costs.” Chinese, Japanese, and European officials also urged all parties involved to show restraint. The U.N. Security Council will convene on Wednesday to address Iran’s operation.

Tuesday’s attack occurred after the Israeli military began carrying out what it called “limited, localized, and targeted ground raids” in southern Lebanon. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and as many as 1 million others have been displaced since cross-border strikes escalated last month, according to Lebanese officials.

Shortly after Iran’s attack on Tuesday and while residents were still under shelter-in-place orders, two suspects shot to death at least eight people at the Ehrlich light rail station in the Israeli city of Jaffa. Local police said the shooters have been “neutralized,” with some calling it a terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it killed Muhammad Jaafar Qasir, a senior Hezbollah commander who oversaw the transfer of Iranian munitions to the militant group, in Beirut on Tuesday. Hezbollah continues to fire missiles at Israeli targets, including Glilot Base, where the headquarters of Israel’s external intelligence agency, Mossad, are located.

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What We’re Following

New heads of government. Japan’s parliament formally elected Shigeru Ishiba as prime minister on Tuesday, replacing Fumio Kishida as the government attempts to address party corruption and the country’s rising cost of living. Ishiba has called for snap elections to be held on Oct. 27, and on Tuesday, he unveiled his new 19-member cabinet, which includes only two female ministers. Women account for just 10 percent of Japan’s lower house—near the bottom of global gender-equality rankings.

Also on Tuesday, Mexico inaugurated its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum. A loyal follower of outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum won nearly 60 percent of the vote in June, twice as much as her closest competitor. Yet her devotion to López Obrador’s flawed legacy, which spurred little economic growth and failed to prevent worsening cartel violence, has some critics arguing that her victory—and the Morena party’s continued success—will weaken Mexico’s democratic institutions and turn it into a one-party system.

Military might. South Korea showcased its most powerful ballistic missile and other weapons at an Armed Forces Day ceremony on Tuesday. This was the first time that Seoul displayed its Hyunmoo-5 missile, which can carry an 8-ton conventional warhead designed to destroy underground bunkers. It also launched a strategic command on Tuesday that, alongside U.S. nuclear capabilities, aims to address North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

South Korean military officials said the parade was intended to display Seoul’s security strength to deter threats from Pyongyang. “If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face a resolute, overwhelming response from our military and the U.S. alliance,” South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said. “That day will see the end of the North Korean regime.”

The United States flew a long-range B-1B bomber during the ceremony to demonstrate its military commitment to South Korea. North Korean Deputy Defense Minister Kim Kang Il denounced Washington’s actions. Last month, Pyongyang published photos of a secret facility to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons, which is banned under several U.N. resolutions.

Renewed mandate in Haiti. The U.N. Security Council on Monday unanimously approved the extension of the international security mission to Haiti for another year. The Kenyan-led mission aims to curb rampant gang violence across the country, which killed at least 3,600 people and displaced more than 700,000 others during the first half of 2024.

Antonio Rodrigue, Haiti’s ambassador to the United Nations, has urged the council to transform the security mission into a U.N. peacekeeping operation. He argued that this would guarantee it stable funding and allow its operations to expand as the situation in Haiti worsens. However, China and Russia, both veto-wielding council members, said the Kenyan mission should be given more time to establish itself. “Discussing other options now will only interfere with the implementation of the mission’s mandate,” said Geng Shuang, China’s deputy U.N. ambassador. The United States withdrew its support for a full peacekeeping mission after failing to get Beijing and Moscow’s support.

Odds and Ends

A symbol of Japanese affordability has given in to economic pressures. Starting Tuesday, Umaibo—a popular puffed corn snack beloved for its taste and affordability—puffed up prices from 12 yen ($0.08) to 15 yen ($0.10), its second and largest increase in 45 years. Citing rising costs of “key components such as corn and vegetable oil” as well as labor, packaging, and shipping, the company apologized for the price increase in a post on its website and begged customers for their understanding “as we continue to work hard to provide a stable supply of Umaibo and overflowing amounts of deliciousness and fun.”

Correction, Oct. 1, 2024: A previous version of this article misstated the role of Japan’s prime minister.