In Tel Aviv, ‘fear and panic’ as Iran launched Tuesday attack

Getting warnings about a possible attack is “sadly quite usual” for 25-year-old Marielle, who lives in Tel Aviv.

But when she got an alert to her phone after work on Tuesday – ahead of a massive missile attack launched by Iran – she knew this time was different.

“Usually we get 90 seconds,” she tells BBC Newsbeat. “This alert told us to shelter immediately.”

“I was just scrambling. I was in the shower – my hair’s wet so I’m just grabbing everything, throwing on the first clothes I have and running to the shelter.”

The biggest feeling is “just fear and panic”, she says, as she sheltered with her roommate and other people in her building.

Marielle, who moved to Israel from the US three years ago, says attacks and threats are “a really insane reality I’ve had a hard time wrapping my head around”.

“It’s unfathomable to a lot of people how a rocket barrage like that could happen, terrorist attacks, and you’re just expected to carry on.”