He could have used his network of proxies to launch an indirect attack against Israel or set off a wave of regional terrorism. Both are steps he has taken in the past. Instead, Khamenei chose to fire hundreds of projectiles at Israel’s second-largest city: one of the largest biggest ballistic missile attacks in history.

Bracing itself for a retaliatory strike for the ballistic missile attack, Iran has been urging its Arab neighbors not to allow Israel to use their airspace.

Israel’s defense minister warned on Wednesday that his country’s retaliation for a recent Iranian missile attack will be “lethal” and “surprising,” while the Israeli military pushed ahead with a large-scale operation in northern Gaza and a ground offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah militants.

An Israeli strike hit a road linking Syria and Lebanon Thursday as Israel tries to cut off supply routes of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a war monitor said.

Israeli airstrikes have hit the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force and other positions in south Lebanon in recent days, drawing widespread condemnation from around the world.