IRAN PUTS REGION ON BRINK
US helps down 200 drones, missiles launched at Israel
The United States has come to the aid of Israel after Iran launched more than 200 drones, ballistic and cruise missiles in an unprecedented attack that has brought the regional foes to the brink of war.
The Israeli Defence Force confirmed most of the Iranian drones and missiles were shot down with the aid of US, British and Jordanian forces before they reached Israel’s borders.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed a “limited number” of missiles fell inside the country’s territory causing minor damage to a military base and injuring a young girl.
“The regime in Iran sent a massive swarm of over 200 killer drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles,” Rear Admiral Hagari said, adding that “so far, we’ve intercepted the vast majority of incoming missiles”.
Israel has vowed a “significant response” to Iran’s massive drone and ballistic missile attack, and urged Israelis not to go to bed “due to what was coming Tehran’s way”.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu responded early on Sunday saying Israel was prepared for a “direct attack from Iran” following threats of retaliation for an April 1 strike that levelled the five-storey consular annex of the Iranian embassy in Damascus killing 16, including seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.
“Our defence systems are deployed, we are prepared for any scenario, both in defence and attack,” he said in a televised statement, adding that Israel had the backing of the US and “many” countries.
US President Joe Biden vowed Washington’s “ironclad” support for Israel after an urgent meeting with his top security officials and speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin on the spiralling crisis.
“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 iron-clad,” Biden said on X. He had an emergency meeting in the White House Situation Room after cutting short his weekend in Delaware returning to the White House on the Marine One helicopter.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack as a “serious escalation” and called on all sides to show restraint to avoid a devastating regional conflagration.
“I strongly condemn the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said in a statement.
“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”
Australia, Britain and EU nations also condemned the attacks.
Before Sunday’s missile attacks, Iran had repeatedly vowed to hit back following the April 1 strike, but had not specified how.
On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized a container ship “related” to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz, which was heading towards Iranian waters, Iranian state media reported.
The ship’s operator, the Italian-Swiss group MSC, said it was working with the relevant authorities to ensure the wellbeing of the 25 crew on-board.
Both Israel and the US denounced the seizure as piracy, with Israel also demanding the Revolutionary Guards be declared a “terrorist organisation” by the European Union.
Within minutes of Sunday’s missile attack, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged that the “evil (Israeli) regime will be punished” in a video statement on X.
In Iran, thousands took to the streets in support of the attack against Israel.
Demonstrators in Tehran’s Palestine Square chanted “death to Israel!” and “death to America!” shortly after the Revolutionary Guards announced the launch of Operation Honest Promise.
The Gaza war began with the unprecedented October 7 attack by Palestinian militants Hamas against Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,686 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel’s military said Saturday it had struck more than 30 Hamas targets across Gaza.
Hamas said it had submitted its response to a Gaza truce plan presented by US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators at talks in Cairo this week.
The Palestinian militant group said it was sticking to its previous demands, insisting on “a permanent ceasefire” and the “withdrawal of the occupation army from the entire Gaza Strip”.