The Israeli military reported that they, along with other countries, successfully intercepted over 300 cruise missiles and drones, most of which were outside Israeli airspace. Although minimal damage was inflicted, Israel issued a warning for people to remain vigilant. US President Joe Biden expressed strong condemnation for the attack and stated that the United States assisted Israel in neutralizing the majority of the missiles and drones. He attributed the attack to Iran and its proxy forces operating from Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, emphasizing that it was an unprecedented air assault on Israeli military facilities.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the attack targeted specific objectives. This reprisal was in response to an earlier strike on Iran's consulate in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of seven IRGC officers, including a high-ranking commander. While Iran accused Israel of carrying out the attack, Israel neither confirmed nor denied its involvement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged unity in the face of this aggression, but their specific response remains uncertain. President Biden reiterated the unwavering commitment of the United States to Israel's security. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), revealed that some Iranian missiles had caused minor damage to a military base inside Israel but did not result in any casualties. Additionally, a seven-year-old Bedouin girl in the southern Arad region sustained injuries from shrapnel caused by falling debris.
Mr. Hagari described the wide-scale attack as a significant escalation and emphasized that Israel and its allies had vigorously defended the nation. He further disclosed that Iran had launched over 300 projectiles overnight, with 99% of them being successfully intercepted. Some of these launches originated from Iraq and Yemen.
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that although "very little damage was caused," the campaign is far from over, and Israel must remain vigilant. According to two US officials who spoke to CBS, American forces successfully intercepted multiple drones, although they did not disclose the specific locations or methods used.
The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed that RAF jets were deployed in Iraq and Syria to intercept any airborne attacks within the range of their existing missions. Sirens blared across Israel, and loud explosions reverberated over Jerusalem as air defense systems shot down unidentified objects in the sky. Iran's IRGC, the most powerful branch of its armed forces, claimed responsibility for the attack, citing retaliation against Israel's repeated offenses, including the recent attack on the Iranian embassy's consulate in Damascus. President Biden curtailed his trip to Delaware and returned to the White House as tensions escalated. Following a conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Biden announced his intention to convene a meeting with fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran's audacious assault. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned Iran's reckless act and pledged unwavering support for Israel's security and that of their regional partners. UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the significant escalation represented by Iran's large-scale attack on Israel and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint. He warned that neither the region nor the world can afford another war.
The UN Security Council, led by President Vanessa Frazier, will hold an emergency meeting to address Iran's assault on Israel. Earlier this week, Israel's defense and foreign ministers issued a warning that any attack from Iran would be met with a retaliatory strike inside Iran. Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri stated on state television that Iran's response would be significantly larger than anticipated.
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