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 Iran launched over 200 drones and missiles at Israel. “The regime in Iran sent a massive swarm of over 200 killer drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles,” an Israeli army spokesman said.
The Israeli army said that “dozens of surface-to-surface missile launches” were identified approaching Israeli territory, the majority of which were intercepted before they crossed into Israel. The IDF is deployed on all fronts, prepared, and continuing to defend Israeli territory, the statement added.
US President Joe Biden promised “ironclad” support for Israel against Iranian attacks, after holding an urgent meeting with his top security officials over the spiraling crisis in the Middle East. “I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” Biden said on X – earlier known as Twitter.
Official sources said that President Biden will speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this evening over the phone. Netanyahu has vowed to respond defensively and offensively, saying that Israel has been preparing for a direct attack by Iran for years.
The European Union, Britain, France, Mexico, Czechia, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands all condemned Iran’s attack. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today over Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel, the body’s president said.
Iran’s proxies and allies also carried out attacks on Israeli positions as sirens sounded in many places.
Hundreds of Iranians gathered in Tehran’s Palestine Square waving Iranian and Palestinian flags to celebrate the unprecedented military action against Israel.
Israel said it was closing schools nationwide while Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon announced they were temporarily closing their airspace.
The Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, now in its seventh month, has driven up tensions in the region, spreading to fronts with Lebanon and Syria and drawing long-range fire at Israeli targets from as far away as Yemen and Iraq.
Those clashes now threaten to morph into a direct open conflict pitting Iran and its regional allies against Israel and its main supporter the United States, with regional power Egypt urging “utmost restraint”

Iran late on Saturday launched a barrage of explosive drones and missiles directly targeting Israeli territory, in response to the bombing of Iran’s embassy in Syria’s capital Damascus earlier this month. This marks the first-ever direct attack by Iran on Israel since conflict began in the region in October last year.

Israel sounded sirens across the country while a video shared by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) showed its famed Iron Dome intercepting hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles in Israeli airspace. A 7-year-old girl was critically injured in the attacks, reported news agency AFP.

Israelis’ reality in the last hours: pic.twitter.com/VXeHM8WqJi

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 14, 2024

Israel’s military spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Iran had launched dozens of ground-to-ground missiles, including cruise missiles, most of which were intercepted outside Israeli borders. The attack, comprising more than 200 drones and missiles, caused minor damage to an Israeli military facility but it managed to intercept the majority of the 200 drones and missiles launched by Iran, with most intercepted before breaching Israeli airspace, said Hagari.

“A short while ago, dozens of surface-to-surface missile launches from Iran were identified approaching Israeli territory. The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted the majority of the launches using the ‘Arrow’ Aerial Defense System, together with Israel’s strategic allies, before the launches crossed into Israeli territory. A small number of hits were identified, including at an IDF base in southern Israel, where minor damage was caused to infrastructure,” the IDF said in a statement. 

“Over the past few hours, many dozens of hostile aircraft, as well as dozens of cruise missiles, from Iran were identified approaching Israeli territory and intercepted. Dozens of IAF fighter jets are currently operating to intercept all aerial threats approaching Israeli territory. The IDF is deployed on all fronts, prepared, and continuing to defend Israeli territory,” it added. 

Following the attack, Israeli officials promised a “significant response,”. Iran, in turn, justified its actions as retaliation for what it perceived as Israeli aggression, citing an earlier strike on its Damascus consulate that resulted in the death of three senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, condemned Iran’s attack, expressing deep concern about the potential for further escalation and the broader regional implications. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden reiterated America’s unwavering support for Israel, pledging “ironclad” backing amid the escalating tensions.