Following a drone strike in Syria that killed Iranian officials, Iran has retaliated by launching a large-scale attack on Israel, raising concern worldwide about the possibility of a wider conflict in the region. The Mail has more.
Hamas has gloated about last night’s devastating attack on Israel by Iran which led to a seven year-old girl being seriously injured – calling it a “deserved response”.
It comes after Israel said it “foiled” Iran’s unprecedented attack on its country and revealed 120 ballistic missiles along with 200 drones were used.
Last night, innocent civilians were forced to flee to bomb shelters across the nation.
Iran sent the salvo of missiles in response to a drone strike at the beginning of April in Syria that killed 12 Iranians, including two top generals.
This morning, Hamas said in a statement: “We in Hamas regard the military operation conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran a natural right and a deserved response on the crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus and the assassination of several leaders of the Revolutionary Guards,” the Times of Israel reports.
The Israeli military today said that Iran’s unprecedented overnight attack on Israel has been “foiled” with hundreds of missiles and drones intercepted with the help of the United States and allies.
Reports in Israel suggested RAF and U.S. warplanes had shot down some Israel-bound Iranian drones over the Iraq-Syria border area amid the attack. But Victoria Atkins has said she is “not in a position to confirm or deny” whether British jets have already shot down Iranian drones.
The attack, which began late yesterday, marks a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes, and comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
A seven year-old girl from a Bedouin town near Arad was injured by falling shrapnel at around 2am and is in serious condition “fighting for her life” at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, the Times of Israel reported.
The medical centre confirmed she is now in the hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit receiving treatment for a major head wound.
Iran today warned Israel of a larger attack if it retaliates against the overnight drone and missile assault – adding that it has warned the U.S. not to back Israeli military action. It said any “reckless” Israeli move will prompt “stronger response”.
Speaking to Sky News, spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said the IDF is “poised and prepared” and will decide whether it will retaliate in a meeting later today. He said it is “extremely tense” and its aerial defences remain on “high alert”.
Iran“s proxies and allies also carried out coordinated attacks on Israeli positions as sirens sounded in many places and with blasts heard in the skies above Jerusalem early Sunday.
Iran had repeatedly threatened to retaliate against Israel for a deadly April 1st air strike on its Damascus consular building, and Washington had warned in recent days that the reprisals were imminent.
Late yesterday, the Israeli army said Iran had launched a “massive swarm of over 200 killer drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles”.
The army said it had scrambled dozens of fighter jets to intercept “all aerial threats”, and was working with the U.S. and other allies to stop the launches.
People in Jerusalem sought cover, while some residents stockpiled water. …
Earlier today, the Israeli army said that 99% of the launches had been intercepted.
None of the drones and cruise missiles that were launched towards Israel had entered its territory, Hagari said, and “only a few” ballistic missiles reached Israel.
“The Iranian attack was foiled,” military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement.
U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated Washington’s “ironclad” support for Israel after an urgent meeting with his top security officials on the spiralling crisis.
Leaders from the G7 will hold a video conference later today to discuss the Iranian strikes on Israel, according to Italy – which holds the rotating presidency of the group of developed nations.
“The Italian presidency of the G7 has summoned G7 leaders for a video conference early this afternoon”, the Government said. The G7 groups the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada. …
The Iranian army has said its attack “achieved all its objectives”.
Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian armed forces’ Chief of sSaff, told state TV: “Operation Honest Promise was completed successfully from last night to this morning and achieved all its objectives.”
Worth reading in full.
Stop Press: It’s hard to imagine Iran’s much-anticipated attack on Israel going any worse for the Islamic Republic, says Lazar Berman in the Times of Israel.
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