In a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Iran launched a barrage of more than 200 drones and missiles targeting Israel late on Saturday. The attack, described by the Israeli army as unprecedented, comes as retaliation for a deadly airstrike on Iran’s Damascus consular annex earlier this month.
The Israeli military reported “minor damage” to an air base and warned Iran of potential consequences if the situation escalates further. The United States aided Israel in intercepting the majority of the attacks, with UK and France reaffirming their commitment to Israel’s security.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) spearheaded the operation, dubbed “True Promise,” targeting certain locations inside Israel. Iranian officials stated that the operation was in response to what they termed “Israeli crimes.”
The situation prompted widespread panic in Jerusalem, with residents seeking cover and stockpiling essentials. US President Joe Biden pledged unwavering support for Israel and ordered military deployments to the region to assist in intercepting the incoming threats.
Meanwhile, Iran’s allies in the region, including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, joined in the coordinated attacks against Israeli positions.
Iran had repeatedly threatened to strike Israel in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air strike on its Damascus consular annex and Washington had warned repeatedly in recent days that the reprisals were imminent.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched “extensive” retaliatory drone and missile strikes — as part of what they called the Operation ‘True Promise’ — against “certain targets” inside Israel.
Israel’s military said the drones, which Iraqi security sources said were seen flying over the country from Iran, would take hours to reach their targets, after the IRGC announced that Operation ‘True Promise’ was part of “punishment for Israeli crimes”.
“Iran launched UAVs from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement.
“We are working in close cooperation with the United States and our partners in the region in order to act against the launches and intercept them,” Rear Admiral Hagari said.
People in Jerusalem sought cover, as residents also stockpiled water. “As you can see it’s empty, everybody is running home,” said Eliyahu Barakat, a 49-year-old grocery shop owner in Jerusalem’s Mamilla neighbourhood.
US President Joe Biden vowed Washington’s “ironclad” support for Israel after an urgent meeting with his top security officials on the spiralling crisis.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed a retaliatory drone and missile attack was under way against Israel in retaliation for the Damascus strike which killed seven Guards, two of them generals. The Guards said its ballistic missiles were fired almost an hour after the slower-moving drones.
Despite warnings from Iran to stay out of the conflict, the US participated in shooting down drones aimed at Israel. Biden, in a later statement, commended Israel’s defense capabilities and emphasized the need for de-escalation.
The incident prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, reflecting the gravity of the situation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
In response to the heightened tensions, airspace closures were announced by Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured preparedness for any scenario, underscoring the backing of the United States and other allies.
The latest developments come amid a stalemate in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes have caused substantial civilian casualties. Efforts to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas have been complicated by ongoing hostilities.
As the situation unfolds, the international community remains on edge, with concerns mounting over the potential for further escalation in the region.