Tehran, Iran – On Tuesday evening, as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched an unprecedented ballistic missile attack on Israel, thousands of Iranians took to the streets to celebrate.

While some of the missiles were still in the air, in major Iranian cities, the government sent out text messages encouraging people to attend state-organized rallies in support of the attack. Broadcast live on state television, the rallies saw the sky light up with fireworks and rousing songs, with loudspeakers praising the Iranian armed forces and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

“Watch the moments of impact, where Picasso would take these moments! Where else are you looking for a Hollywood theme, watch and enjoy,” presenter Amirhossein Tahmasebi said of footage of dozens of missiles hitting Israel. about, excitedly told millions of viewers on the state broadcaster’s popular Channel 3.

Just days earlier, the same presenter had warned that if Tehran did not retaliate for the Israeli killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC Brigadier General Abbas Nilfroushan in a major attack on Beirut. It can be attacked next. He argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “only understands the language and ballistics of missiles”.

It appears at first that Iran is exercising more of its “strategic patience” in the meantime. Fears of a regional warThe government of moderate President Masoud Pizshakyan has been reluctant to strike during a highly volatile period.

The message from the state focused mostly on the fact that “Hezbollah is alive” and the message that the “Axis resistance” that Iran supports throughout the region is against Israel’s goals. Will continue operations. There was no promise of “harsh revenge” for the earlier Israeli killings.

But once the missile attack on Israel was underway on Tuesday, Iranian officials showed a united front, insisting that all branches of state, including the military and the government’s defense ministry, supported the attack.

In videos released to the media, Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, Mohammad Baqeri, and IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami were seen smiling in a command center as they fired missiles at Israel. In another video, Salami called the president to report that the missiles had been destroyed and that air defense batteries were fully prepared to counter any Israeli response.

Worry about the war coming home

After the attack, Iran told the US and Israel’s other allies to stay on their toes, warning that their bases would be hit directly by more Iranian missiles if they participated in a possible Israeli attack on Iran. .

But with the Israeli army More than 1,000 people have already been killed in Lebanon. And with hundreds more in the Gaza Strip – many of them civilians – in just the past few days, with little or no pressure from its European allies, some in Iran fear that a devastating war could be theirs. Reaching the threshold.

“I was so scared last night, we considered packing up with my family and leaving the city,” a 55-year-old woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday morning. When I woke up today I half expected an attack from somewhere, especially with some news that Israeli jets were getting ready to attack, but everything seems to be quiet for now.

Perhaps hoping to expand its attacks to include Iran, Israel has been trying to directly influence Iranian minds over the past few days.

Netanyahu released a video address to the Iranian people on Monday, saying “you deserve better than the current Iranian establishment,” but also warning that “there is no place in the Middle East like this.” is as far as Israel cannot reach.”

After the missile attack, an Israeli military spokesman released a video in Farsi, telling Iranians that Israel would retaliate against Iran at a time, place and manner of its own choosing.

Nights of Missile Bombardment in Tehran, 1366 pic.twitter.com/pA7gXUFsYf

— Persian Memories (@PersianMemories) October 1, 2024

Translation: Missile bombardment nights in Tehran. [during the eight-year Iran-Iraq War]1987

Ali, a 31-year-old from Tehran, said he was not yet alarmed by a possible attack.

“But there is a real threat of war and bombs falling on our heads, I hope we don’t get to that point. How many people around the world have to worry about something like that?” he asked.

Amid Israeli threats of retaliation, many in Iran turn to laughter to lighten the load.

Iranian social media was full of jokes, many reflecting fear and uncertainty about the future.

“The best thing about autumn is when you’re wearing a hoodie and zig-zagging to a shelter to avoid missiles,” one user wrote.

“Middle East, 270 days out of 365 in a year,” another wrote, referring to one post saying, “We’re in for a historic night.”

Another Iranian pointed out, in a light-hearted way, how the frequency of conflict can affect people’s ability to plan for their future.

“I slowly put my five-year plans in the drawer and pull out my five-hour plans!”.

But some Iranians inside and outside the country who are opposed to the current establishment have also expressed support for Israel online after the missile attack. In response, the IRGC’s intelligence department released a brief statement on Wednesday, calling on people to report “any support for the fake Israeli government in cyberspace.”