Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed late Tuesday to retaliate against Iran, stating that “Iran made a big mistake tonight, and it will pay for it,” after Tehran launched a barrage of missiles into Israel. The escalation marks one of the rare direct confrontations between the two nations, which have largely been engaged in a shadow war for years. Israel views Iran as its greatest adversary, pointing to Tehran’s calls for Israel’s destruction, its support for militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, and its contentious nuclear program. Iran has consistently denied Israeli accusation…