Iran attacks Israel with over 300 drones, missiles; 99% intercepted
Israel is weighing its response to the unprecedented attack, with Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden speaking early Sunday morning
Israel faced a barrage of over 300 drones and missiles launched from Iran on Sunday, according to IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. While most were intercepted by Israel's Aerial Defense Array, a few managed to reach Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an IDF base in southern Israel. Hagari reported that dozens of hostile aircraft and cruise missiles were also intercepted.
U.S. President Biden condemned the attack, stating that the U.S. military had deployed resources to support Israel's defense, resulting in the interception of nearly all incoming threats. Amid escalating tensions, Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed potential responses to the attack. Iran's UN mission justified their actions as retaliation for alleged Israeli aggression in Damascus. They warned against further Israeli interference, urging the U.S. to abstain from involvement in the conflict.
"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," Hagari said early Sunday morning.
An Israeli official said that 99% of the threats were intercepted, with many being intercepted by the U.S. coalition in the region and by Israeli fighter jets.
Biden said he condemns the Iranian attack in strongest possible terms. "At my direction, to support the defense of Israel, the U.S. military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week," Biden said in a statement late Saturday. "Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles." The president said he will convene G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response.
Iran's UN mission early on Sunday indicated they could consider their attack on Israel and an adequate response to the Israeli attack on Damascus and the killing of senior members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Crops (IRGC).
"Iran's military action was in response to Israel's aggression against Iran's diplomatic premises in Damascus," Iran's mission to the U.N. posted on X. "The matter can be deemed concluded. Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran's response will be considerably more severe."
In the post the Iranian mission also sent a warning message to the U.S. telling them to stay out of the direct Iranian-Israeli conflict.
