But first right now, the lead with Jake Tapper starts right now welcome to the lead. Im Jake Tapper and we are following two major breaking stories. I am right now inside the Spin Room at Cbs Studio goes in new York Hours away from tonights first and only 2024, Vice President ial debate. But the Worlds Attention might be elsewhere at roughly 12 30 p. M. Eastern youre in time. Iran launched a major attack on Israel Firing nearly 200 ballistic missiles according to us officials, cnns Jim Sciutto and his crew were live on an air in israel at the time as Air Raid sirens sounded and missiles began to rain down overhead okay, guys, we got to get off the roof. These are coming down right next to us here. Hes do jim, please do theyre coming down one just about. We got to go Inside Sciutto and his team are thankfully safe. We are waiting for reports as to the damage done by the iranian souls, the Israel Defense forces reports that most of irans missiles its were intercepted by Israels Air defenses. But the idf also says a few did make impact in central and southern israel. They are assessing the situation. We will let you know if they hit any thing or any one of note Irans Attack one day before the Jewish Holiday of russias xana, the Jewish New Year follows Israels Launch of a Ground Operation in southern Lebanon Targeting iranbacked hezbollah. Thats a group that the u. S. Considers to be a Terrorist Group and a strike friday, of course, which killed hezbollahs longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah this intense escalation raises the stakes perhaps for tonights Vice President ial debate here in New York, the showdown between democratic governor Tim Walz and republican senator j. D. Vance was already arguably more critical. Than your average vp showdown, given that this president ial race is a nailbiter, or perhaps the closest in modern history. Any slammed any Slipup Tonight could have implications for election day. Were going to have much more on what we expect in that debate just ahead, but were going to start in the Middle East with cnns Jim Sciutto live in Tel Aviv and jim, you obviously were on that balcony in Tel Aviv when the attack started. You have reported for many conflict zones throughout your reporting life. How does Todays Attack . Compare listen, i havent seen anything like this and the concern at the peak of it was not just that an iranian missile might get through those defenses, but that one of the interceptors, after striking one of those missiles, that A Fragment of it or the missile that it struck . Would fall to the ground. And in fact, that did happen. There were multiple impacts in and around Tel Aviv. We saw some of them just to the North And South of the hotel where we are and at the peak of it as the interceptors and the missiles were meeting over the center of the city. Several of them were over our heads and of course, the concern is that one of them is going to cause down. Thankfully, the israeli military has said no deaths reported inside israel. We did hear from Jake Sullivan, the u. S. National security advisor, that there is a report of a death of a palestinian in the West Bank. But some combination of the Missile Defenses folks obeying orders to go into shelters and perhaps good fortune there were not more casualties. Theyre still assessing damage and i can tell just by seeing some of the explosions that we witnessed on some of those impacts. One in particular, just to the north of us, which seemed quite large. Id be surprised if there wasnt at least some noticeable damage given the size of those blasts less it a significant attack. We now know 180 missiles. We also now know that the u. S. In addition to israel took actions to shoot down some of those missiles two us destroyers in particular firing interceptors, were told a major escalation. The damage, the casualties certainly could have been far worse israel says it will respond to what the iranians just did. What kind of response do you think the israelis are contemplating . Theres no question. There will be a military response. The idf has been quite public about that. Theres gonna be a Cabinet Meeting this evening. The only question becomes target. And will that target include iran . And the thinking is very likely, yes, then the question becomes, what exactly in iran and how extensively you remember in april following irans previous missile, in that case, it was also a drone attack. Israel did respond, though with only one Missile Strike on one installation near isfahan, which is the site of one of the nuclear facilities. But on a missile defense battery, there this response, given the size of this attack, is likely to be larger the question really is, where, how extensively and the biggest Burning Question i would say jake take would be due israels targets include irans, nuclear facilities, because that would be quite an escalation. And one that you well, listen in the cycle that weve been locked in for some time, one that you would expect iran to then retaliate in kind yeah. I also think a big question out there is what is the the u. S. Going to do the us government warned before the attack that the attack would carry, carry quote severe consequences for iran if they actually carried it out what are you hearing about a possible united states bonds so the u. S. Response to the April Attack was sanctions. A favorite tool of this administration, both for iran, for russia, for china the Pentagon Spokesperson was asked repeatedly, would there be a u. S. Military response personally, i find that unlikely that the u. S. Would militarily respond. The u. S. Footing has been defend israel certainly in Missile Attacks back in most circumstances, israels right. Certainly the defend itself and all circumstances. But, but back, e back with some caveats and some encouragement not to escalate but i think a us participation in an israeli strike on iran in particular is highly unlikely because the u. S. Goal, throughout the last almost 12 months now since October 7 has been to try to keep this war from expanding and cajoling all the sides and not just israel controlling iran sometimes via intermediaries to prevent a further escalation. So is it further sanctions possible a Military Strike on iran seems farfetched . I think hearing all right. Jim sciutto in Tel Aviv, israel. Thank you so much. Lets bring in Lieutenant Colonel nadav shoshani. Hes a spokesperson for the israeli military. Thank you so much for joining us. What can you tell us about the scope of Irans Attack today . Do you expect more strikes and do you have any reports on casualties . Well, jake, thanks for having me approximately at 7 30 local time around carried out an attack of 180 ballistic missiles from iranian soil towards israel basically sending the whole of Israel And Bomb shelters, talking about almost 10 Million people running to Bomb Shelters to find, i am currently in the scene of one of the places where shrapnel from these huge ballistic missiles hit. And i can tell you, are aerial Defense System alongside with our partners, the u. S. And other allies were able to thwart two, most of those missiles, but not all of them. There have been some henson and central israel and some hits in southern israel. And this is one of the largest and most outrageous attacks by this iranian Terror Regime dragging the region into wider escalation, trying to push us into a wider escalation with this unprecedented attack against israel coming down one just about what can you tell us about how israel is going to respond sovereign country. We have a right to defend ourselves. We have the right to protect ourselves against these kinds of attacks. There will be consequences to this attack and we showed just a few days our ability to strike precisely and fierce philly 1,500 miles from his will when we attack the houthis in yemen. And we have the abilities to and we will choose the time in place and the way we will response to this outrageous attack against israeli civilians, sending basically all of it israel to Bomb SheltersLieutenant Colonel, what can you tell us about any casualties . Jim sciutto mentioned that the u. S. Had referred to a Palestinian American and the West Bank being killed possibly. Do you know anything about that or any other any other casualties . Well, this large Scale Attack happened just recently were still assessing the situation i can tell you in the moment we know of multiple people injured and we know of a palestinian who was killed by this attack in the area of jericho and we are still assessing the situation because this scale of attack is one of the largest attacks weve seen definitely in the history of israel, maybe in the history of ballistic missiles attacks and this outrageous attack, i think the number of casualties is so slow, not because this wasnt one of the most largest attacks, but because one our civilians and listening to the Homefront Guidance and basically, most of Israel Hiding in Bomb Shelters for over an hour. Were talking about 10 Million people hiding Bomb Shelters from this attack in over an hour. And were also talking about a very impressive presentation of Aerial Defense, also by israel, also by the u. S. Us absence and also by other countries supporting us against this iranian Terror Regime will the israeli response include israel striking inside of iran . This attack has been carried out toward israel from iranian soil there. Multiple options on the table. We will act according to what the Political Echelon decides. And there will be consequences to this outrageous attack by iran. This escalatory historic move by aram, there will be escalation that we will respond and we will choose the time and place to respond precisely, but fiercely i have analysts say that iran does not does not actually want to escalate matters. And the proof of that, according to this argument, which i am not making is that casualties are so low and so few of these missiles hit respond to that analysis, if you would well, jake, the amount of bullets im talking one, ballistic missiles can take down a skyscraper. Were talking about 180 ballistic missiles, shot simultaneously towards israeli communities hitting schools, schools where children were just a few hours for this attack. And the only reason the results of it are not tragic and catastrophic is one the people of Israel Hiding in shelters for over an hour into this presentation of Aerial Defense by israel and the u. S i think one of the most advanced Aerial Defense operations in the world and filled there were hits in israel, we are still assessing the situation. Still people were injured, people were killed by this attack. And you do not do an attack that is not an Escalatory Move with 180 ballistic missiles, ill tell you this. No other country in the world would accept ten ballistic missiles. And i cant imagine anyone taking 180 ballistic missiles to our country, our country has a right to defend itself. And i think the u. S. Has also made it clear that they stood next to us today by our sides, protecting ourselves from this outrageous attack for their reign of Terror Regime we will not. Accept this. And this is definitely an Escalatory Move definitely a move to try and hurt in harm and kill civilians idf international spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel nadav shoshani. Thank you so much, sir. Appreciate it thanks for having me, jake joining us now, former Secretary Of Defense here in the united states, former senator from maine, William Cohen Secretary cohen, once we know the full scale of the damage in israel how involved . How do you expect the united states to be in whatever comes next well, it all depends on how the israelis bring us into their planning. The biden administration apparently was caught by surprise in terms of the attack okay. And the elimination of nasrallah i think the president probably expressed his concern about that not being involved in some way, being alerted to it but i think that the israelis, they have a number of options. My my guess is and im only speculating here. But i think that they will take this opportunity to inflict far more serious penalties upon the uranium and they have to date i think this is an opportunity they see as theyve been waiting for theyve got nasrallah whos been eliminated. The leadership in hezbollah eliminated. Theyve got hamas are hiding out underground bunkers in gaza. And now they have the iranians who would have looked weak if they had and responded. And now look weak, that they have think okay. Before i begin, i wanted to say a few words about irans missile Attack Today at my direction, United States Military actively supported the defense of israel and were still assessing the impact but based on what we know now, the Attack Period have been defeated and ineffective. And this is testament Israeli Military Capability and us military im also is also a testament to intensive planning between the united states and israel, not to anticipate and defend against the brazen attack. We expected make no mistake. The united states is fully, fully, fully supportive of israel and i just got been spent the morning in part of the afternoon in the Situation Room and meeting with my whole National SecurityTeam And Consulting with the israelis indirectly, because im in terms of their impact on us and the National Security team has been, as i said, constant contact with israeli officials and their counterparts as going to continue to be brought to me throughout the day. We still love to share updates and when we get them, we will do that and now i want to turn it over going to talk much the damage done by this, this horrible hurricane. My top priorities, i mean, its assume all right. President biden, there ive talking about what happened there Secretary Cohen still with us . If so, we can bring him back to get him to Secretary Cohen. Im so sorry we got preempted there by rolling tape from the white house. But there you have President Biden commenting on what happened pinned us officials, as you know, have been pushing a ceasefire but it does not seem like those efforts have come to fruition in any way. You alluded to the fact that planes were in the air before for the israeli killing of hassan salah, before President Biden was told about the attack and these Ceasefire Talks have largely failed, or at least efforts to get them to the table. Fears of a regional war only growing what comes next . Do you think is, is there any chance that things can be, there can be a deescalation well, theres a chance, but i dont think its a realistic i think the israelis feel that theyve got the upper hand now that iran or its proxies are on their heels, and now is the time to really take it to the source of their problems thats iran. So would expect that they would level a very serious attack in iran against a number of facilities possibly their oil industry, which