Israel announces defenses in action against Iranian drone attack

Iran fired dozens of drones and missiles at Israel, marking a widely anticipated retaliatory strike.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said the attack was aimed at “specific targets.”

The Israeli military said it and other countries intercepted dozens of cruise missiles and drones, mostly outside Israeli airspace.

The Israeli prime minister convened a war cabinet meeting after the Iranian attack began.

This is the first time that hostilities between the two arch-enemies, who have been waging a shadow war for years, have escalated into an open showdown.

Iran had vowed revenge for an April 1 attack on its consulate in Syria that killed seven Revolutionary Guards personnel, including the commander in chief. It accused Israel of carrying out the attack, which Israel would neither confirm nor deny.

“Tonight’s large-scale attack by Iran is a significant escalation,” said Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari.

“Together with our allies and partners, we are working as hard as we can to protect the State of Israel and the Israeli people.”

He said Iran launched “a swarm of more than 200 lethal drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles,” adding that Israel and “regional partners” intercepted most of them.

He said some of the missiles landed inside Israel, causing minor damage to military bases but causing no casualties.

Israeli emergency services say a 10-year-old Bedouin girl was injured by falling debris in the southern Arad region.

Two U.S. officials told the BBC’s U.S. partner CBS that the U.S. military shot down several drones, but did not say where or how they were intercepted.

Sirens rang across Israel, loud explosions were heard over Jerusalem, and air defense systems shot down objects over the city.

Israel, Lebanon and Iraq have closed their airspace, and Syria and Jordan have established air defenses.

Iran’s most powerful military, the Revolutionary Guards, announced it had launched the attack “in retaliation against the Zionist regime.” [Israel] He committed repeated crimes, including an attack on the Iranian embassy and consulate in Damascus. ”

Shortly before the news about the Iranian launch, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s “defense systems” had been deployed.

“We are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The Israel Defense Forces are strong. The people are strong.

“The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, and we thank the United Kingdom, France, and many other countries for their support.”

On Saturday, US President Joe Biden cut short a visit to Delaware and returned to the White House amid rising tensions.

“Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is resolute,” he said after meeting with his national security team after the Iranian attack began.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned Iran’s “reckless” attack and vowed that Britain “continues to stand for the security of Israel and all our regional partners.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement saying he “strongly condemns” the move.[ed] A serious escalation exemplified by a large-scale attack on Israel by Iran.

He called for an “immediate cessation of these hostilities” and the utmost restraint from all parties.

“Neither this region nor the world can afford another war,” he warned.

Earlier this week, Israel’s defense and foreign ministers warned that if Iran attacked Israel, Israel would strike back inside Iran.