Iran made good on its threat and attacked Israel. Tehran had announced that Israel would be punished over the deaths of two brigadier generals. There is a threat of conflagration in the Middle East.
Tel Aviv - Iran has directly attacked Israel for the first time. Despite international warnings, Iran sent drones and missiles. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed the start of the attack on Saturday. It will take several hours for the drones to reach Israeli territory. It was initially unclear whether Israel would respond with a counterattack on Iran.
Military tensions in the Middle East escalated after a suspected Israeli airstrike on April 1 on an Iranian embassy building in Syria's capital Damascus left several people dead. They included two brigadier generals and five other members of the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Reports: US forces have intercepted Iranian drones
US forces have intercepted Iranian drones aimed at Israel, according to media reports. The US channels CNN, ABC News, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing government officials familiar with the matter, that the US military in the region had shot down Iranian drones that were flying towards Israel. The Department of Defense in Washington said they were aware of the reports but initially did not want to comment on them.
The New York Times quoted a Defense Department official as saying, "Consistent with our ironclad commitment to Israel's security, U.S. forces in the region continue to shoot down Iranian drones aimed at Israel."
The United States has maintained and used bases in the Middle East for decades. According to the Pentagon, around 2,400 US soldiers are deployed in Iraq. There are around 700 in Syria and around 4,000 in Jordan. On Friday, the Pentagon announced that it would increase the military presence and protection of troops in the region. Iran has called on the US to stay out of the conflict.
The Israeli news site ynet reported that Israeli intelligence had been informed of two drones fired from Iran early Sunday that were intercepted and shot down by U.S. forces or other regional defense facilities in the Gulf or Jordan.
Israel's rescue service after Iran attack: 10-year-old seriously injured
According to the Magen David Adom rescue service, a ten-year-old boy was seriously injured in Iran's major attack on Israel. The rescue service said on Sunday night that it was a Bedouin from the area around the city of Arad in the Negev Desert. The rescue service initially reported that there were no injuries in the Iranian attacks.
Iran attacks
According to state media, Iran's Revolutionary Guards also launched ballistic missiles in their massive retaliatory attack. It was not clear from the report by the Irna news agency on Sunday night (local time) which types of rockets were involved. Iran's Revolutionary Guard has several types of medium-range missiles that can reach Israel.
Ballistic missiles have rocket engines and are used for rapid, long-range attacks. They differ from cruise missiles, which can fly at lower altitudes and are controlled continuously.
The Revolutionary Guards said they also launched dozens of drones towards Israel. The operation, called “Sincere Promise,” was in retaliation for the killing of high-ranking officers in Syria. On April 1, two brigadier generals were killed in a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran's embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Iran's defense minister warns of counterattacks
The Iranian defense minister has warned of counterattacks on his country after the start of retaliatory strikes against Israel. Any state that attacks Iran will receive a “decisive response,” said General Mohammed-Reza Ashtiani, according to the state news agency Irna on Sunday night.
Iran has also portrayed the attack on Israel as an appropriate response to the attack on its embassy in Syria. “The matter can be considered closed. However, if the Israeli regime makes another mistake, Iran's reaction will be much harsher," the Iranian mission to the United Nations said on Platform X in New York on Saturday (local time). The USA, in turn, must stay out of the conflict, the message emphasized.
Hezbollah fires rockets from Lebanon towards Israel
The Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah says it has fired rockets into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israeli barracks in the area were targeted with Katyusha-type rockets late on Saturday evening, the spleen said.
Netanyahu addresses citizens of Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the citizens of his country shortly before the attack. “The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. “We appreciate the US standing with Israel, as well as the support of Britain, France and many other countries,” he said. “We have a clear principle: whoever harms us, we harm them too,” he warned. “Together we will stand and with God’s help defeat all our enemies,” Netanyahu added.
Defense Minister Joav Galant has repeatedly emphasized that such an attack would not go unanswered. “A direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran,” Galant warned last Friday.
In view of the Iranian attack on Israel, residents of the occupied Golan Heights were asked to stay near shelters on Sunday night. Israeli television reported that residents of Eilat, Dimona and Nevatim in the Negev Desert had also received similar instructions. The New York Times, citing Israeli representatives, reported that it was expected that the Golan Heights and an Israeli air force base in the Negev Desert could become targets of Iranian attacks. Dozens of Israeli fighter jets are in the air to intercept missiles from Iran.
Media: “Significant response” expected from Israel to Iran attack
According to Israeli media reports, a “significant reaction” from Israel can be expected after Iran’s major attack. This was reported by Israeli television and the Haaretz newspaper on Sunday night. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed how to proceed with his inner circle of ministers.
US confirms attack
The USA also confirmed the Iranian attack. US President Joe Biden will be continuously informed about the situation and will meet with his security team in the White House on Saturday afternoon (local time), said a spokeswoman for the National Security Council. The attack will “likely last several hours.”
For the emergency meeting, Biden shortened his stay in Rehoboth Beach in the US state of Delaware, where he actually wanted to spend the weekend - and flew back to Washington earlier than planned. According to the information, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Chief of Staff Charles Brown and CIA Director William Burns also wanted to take part in the deliberations. Biden had promised Israel the full support of the USA. On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin renewed that assurance. dpa