Israel under fire as Iran launches 200 missiles and drones
Iran has launched a barrage of drones and cruise missiles at Israel, marking the first direct assault by the Islamic Republic on the country. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said Iran launched more than 200 projectiles at Israel, the majority of which were intercepted by the IDF and its allies. The first wave hit Israel about 2:00am local time. Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Dimona, the desert city that houses Israel's nuclear reactor, all appear to have been targeted.
Why does this story matter?
The attack came nearly two weeks after Iran warned Israel of retaliation over the killings of seven Iranians, including its Quds Force Commander, Major General Mohammad Reza Zahedi. Iran had said it reserves the right "to take a decisive response" after an airstrike by suspected Israeli warplanes hit the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1. While Israel has repeatedly targeted Iranian-linked assets in Syria in recent months, this was the first time a strike hit an Iranian diplomatic building.
Suspected targets and allies in the offensive
Israeli intelligence sources suspect that military bases in the occupied Golan Heights and the Negev desert were probable targets of Iran's assault, the New York Times reported. Numerous drones were observed traversing Iraqi airspace from Iran toward Israel. Yemen's Houthi militia and Lebanon's Hezbollah said overnight that they had also joined the onslaught on Israel.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards launch ballistic missiles
Within an hour of the drone launches, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps declared it had also fired ballistic missiles at specific locations in Israel under "Operation True Promise." A statement from the Guards, broadcast by state TV, stated that this was in response to "numerous crimes committed by the Zionist regime." One strike injured a young girl in Negev, and other impacts caused "damage to infrastructure" at a military base in southern Israel. The girl was injured by shrapnel, medics said.
Iran vows further 'defensive measures' against military aggression
Amid the attack, Iran's Foreign Ministry said the country has responded to what it called "the aggressive act of the Zionist regime against the Iranian embassy in Damascus." In a statement, the ministry warned that Iran will not hesitate to take additional defensive measures to preserve its legitimate interests from any aggressive military activities or illegal use of force. The Revolutionary Guards have also said that any threat from the United States or Israel will be met with reciprocal response.
Britain says RAF jets deployed to intercept any airborne attacks
Meanwhile, British Royal Air Force jets in the Middle East "will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required," the country's Ministry of Defense says. "In response to increased Iranian threats...the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks," the statement adds. US President Joe Biden said the country's commitment to Israel's security against threats from "Iran and its proxies is ironclad."
