U.S. helps Israel thwart Iranian attack of 300 drones and missiles
Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israel in its first full-scale military assault against the country. U.S. military forces in the region helped Israel intercept the strikes, President Biden said. Israel’s war cabinet will meet Sunday to discuss a response to the attack, an Israeli official said.
World leaders react to Iran’s attack against Israel.
World leaders have voiced grave concerns over Iran’s recent wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, warning that such actions could escalate tensions and destabilize the already volatile Middle East region. Allies, including the United States, Germany, France, Britain, and others, have reiterated their unwavering support for Israel following Tehran’s aggressive military assault.
President Biden, in a strongly worded statement condemning the attacks, reaffirmed the United States’ steadfast commitment to Israeli security, labeling it as “ironclad.” He announced plans to convene Group of Seven leaders on Sunday to coordinate a unified response to the escalating situation.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced the attacks as “unjustifiable and highly irresponsible,” emphasizing Germany’s solidarity with Israel and its intention to engage in discussions with allies to address the crisis.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak characterized Iran’s actions as “reckless” and warned against further exacerbating tensions in the region. He pledged continued support for Israel’s security while condemning Iran’s destabilizing behavior.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unequivocally condemned Iran’s assault on Israel, denouncing it as a blatant disregard for peace and stability in the region. He reiterated Canada’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the “unprecedented attack,” expressing solidarity with Israel and emphasizing France’s commitment to the region’s security. He called for de-escalation efforts and urged restraint from all parties involved.
China expressed concern over the escalating conflict and called for calm and restraint from all relevant parties, stressing the need for an immediate end to the hostilities.
Saudi Arabia echoed similar sentiments, expressing deep concern over the military escalation and warning of grave consequences if the situation worsens. The kingdom urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry echoed calls for restraint, urging the international community to take urgent action to defuse tensions and reduce the risk of further escalation in the region.
The international community’s unified stance reflects the gravity of the situation and the shared determination to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East.
Israel says it intercepted 99% of Iranian drones, missiles overnight
Israel’s air defense systems, in collaboration with the United States and other allies, successfully intercepted nearly all Iranian drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles that targeted Israel overnight. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), revealed during a news conference early Sunday that “99% of the threats launched toward Israel were intercepted.” He emphasized that the majority of interceptions occurred outside Israeli territory.
According to Hagari, Iran unleashed a barrage of over 300 missiles and drones, including more than 100 ballistic missiles, 30 cruise missiles, as well as various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and suicide drones. Despite the scale of the attack, Hagari stated that only “less than a handful” of ballistic missiles caused minor damage in and around the Nevatim air base in the Negev Desert. Nevertheless, the base remained fully operational as of Sunday.
Israeli defense systems managed to down “120 ballistic missiles” and 25 cruise missiles, with none of the UAVs or cruise missiles breaching Israeli airspace, according to Hagari.
The coordinated attack originated primarily from Iranian territory, but some rockets were launched from the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Additionally, UAVs and cruise missiles were launched from Yemen and Iraq.
Iran attack Israel live updates.
Hagari hailed the response of Israeli forces, highlighting their technological superiority in countering the Iranian threat. He described the battle as “unique,” citing the high number of planes in the air and simultaneous interceptions required. He expressed gratitude to the United States for leading a defense coalition with multiple partners and praised France for its contribution of fighter jets and advanced technology, including radar systems.
Despite the ongoing situation, Hagari affirmed Israel’s confidence in its defense capabilities and reiterated the effectiveness of its collaboration with international partners in safeguarding its sovereignty and security.
Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant has described Iran as a country of terror following last night’s attacks.
The successful interception of Iran’s attack comes at a time when Israel is bogged down in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Israel and Iran have been on a collision course throughout the former’s six-month attack on the Gaza Strip.
The Iran-led strikes, less than two weeks after an Israeli attack on Syria that killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Reacting, Gallant said: “The Iranian attack was blocked in the most impressive way, together with our partners, the Americans and others.
”The entire world saw today who is Iran – a country of terror.”
