Iran has launched a major aerial assault on Israel, deploying numerous drones and missiles as a form of retaliation.
This marks the first direct military confrontation between the two long-standing adversaries, who have been involved in an ongoing shadow conflict through proxy groups for several years.
According to Israeli defence officials, Israel and its allies successfully intercepted most of the missiles and drones, keeping them outside Israeli territory.
U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that American support was crucial in helping Israel intercept nearly all of the attacks and expressed strong disapproval of Iran’s actions.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the attack targeted specific military installations in Israel, following a previous strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria, which resulted in the death of seven IRGC officers, including a senior commander.
Iran accused Israel of being behind the strike, although Israel did not confirm or deny its involvement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a war cabinet meeting and spoke with President Biden, who reinforced America’s commitment to Israel’s security.
The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that some Iranian missiles landed in Israel, causing minor damage but no casualties.
Israel’s emergency services reported a seven-year-old Bedouin girl was injured by shrapnel in the southern Arad region. The IDF noted that Iran launched over 200 drones and missiles, with Israel and its allies intercepting most of them.
U.S. forces intercepted several drones, while the UK deployed jets in Iraq and Syria to counter airborne threats. Sirens echoed across Israel, with air defense systems engaging incoming threats over Jerusalem.
Israel, Lebanon, and Iraq closed their airspaces, and Syria and Jordan heightened their air defense readiness.
The IRGC claimed the attack was in response to Israeli actions, including the strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s defensive readiness and strength, and expressed appreciation for the support from the U.S. and other countries.
President Biden ended his trip to Delaware to return to the White House as tensions rose. He planned to meet with G7 leaders to coordinate a diplomatic response to Iran’s assault. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the attack and reiterated the UK’s support for Israel and regional security.
UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the escalation and urged an immediate halt to the violence. He warned against further conflict, citing the potential global impact.
The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss Iran’s attack on Israel.
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