Iran has initiated a barrage of aerial drones and missiles directed at Israel, signaling a long-awaited retaliatory strike.
This marks the inaugural direct confrontation between the two adversaries, embroiled in a protracted shadow conflict for years, with Iran leveraging proxy forces.
According to the Israeli military, Israel and allied nations intercepted over 300 cruise missiles and drones, predominantly beyond Israeli airspace.
Although Israel reported minimal damage, cautionary advisories were issued to remain vigilant.
US President Joe Biden said “we helped Israel take down nearly all” of missiles and drones as he expressed strong condemnation for the attack.
“Iran and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel,” he said.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said the attack was aimed at “specific targets”.
Iran had pledged to retaliate for an attack on its consulate in Syria on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of seven IRGC officers, including a senior commander. While Iran accused Israel of carrying out the attack, Israel neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel vowed a unified response, stating “together we will win,” although Israel’s specific course of action remains uncertain.
President Biden reiterated the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security in response to the incident.
According to Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), some Iranian missiles struck inside Israel, causing minor damage to a military base but resulting in no casualties. Additionally, Israel’s ambulance service reported that a seven-year-old Bedouin girl sustained injuries from falling debris in the southern Arad region.
Hagari described the widespread attack as a “significant escalation,” noting that Israel and its allies had employed maximum efforts to defend against it. He further stated that Iran launched over 300 projectiles at Israel overnight, with 99% intercepted. He added that some of the launches originated from Iraq and Yemen.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant noted that minimal damage was inflicted, but cautioned that the “campaign is not over,” emphasizing the need for continued vigilance.
American forces reportedly downed multiple drones, according to two US officials who spoke to CBS, the BBC’s US partner. However, they did not specify the location or method of interception.
The UK Ministry of Defence stated that RAF jets had been deployed in Iraq and Syria to intercept any airborne threats within the range of their existing missions.
Sirens blared across Israel, accompanied by loud explosions over Jerusalem, as air defense systems intercepted objects over the city.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its most powerful military branch, claimed responsibility for the attack, citing retaliation against what they termed as Israel’s repeated offenses, including the assault on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
President Biden shortened his trip to Delaware and returned to the White House as tensions escalated on Saturday. Later, he announced plans to convene a meeting with his G7 counterparts to coordinate a unified diplomatic response to Iran’s bold attack.
Two US officials told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that American forces had shot down several drones, but did not specify where or how they were intercepted.
The UK Ministry of Defence said RAF jets had been deployed in Iraq and Syria to intercept “any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions”.
Sirens sounded across Israel and loud explosions were heard over Jerusalem, with air defence systems shooting down objects over the city.
Iran’s IRGC – the most powerful branch of its armed forces – said it had launched the attack “in retaliation against the Zionist regime’s [Israel] repeated crimes, including the attack on the Iranian embassy’s consulate in Damascus”.
President Biden cut short a trip to Delaware to return to the White House as tensions mounted on Saturday.
After speaking to Mr Netanyahu later he said he would convene “my fellow G7 leaders to co-ordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack”.