People watch projectiles in the sky while taking shelter during an air raid siren after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, in central Israel, Oct. 1. Reuters-Yonhap

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday called Iran's massive missile attack on Israel "a big mistake" and vowed to make Tehran "pay for it".

"Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it," said Netanyahu hours after the attack, and warned: "Whoever attacks us, we attack them."

In a separate statement, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who was at the command and control centre monitoring the interception of Iranian missiles, also vowed to punish Iran for the attack.

"Iran has not learned a simple lesson — those who attack the state of Israel, pay a heavy price," he said in a statement issued by his office. (AFP)