Sirens blared across Israel on Saturday night as hundreds of drones and missiles launched from Iran reached Israel. Drones and missiles were also reportedly launched from Yemen and other countries around the region.
A seven-year-old girl from a Bedouin village near Arad was seriously wounded by the Iranian attack, according to Magen David Adom. Dr. Dan Schwartzfox, the deputy director of Soroka Medical Center, told Army Radio on Sunday morning that the girl was in intensive care and that her life was still at risk. Minor damage was caused to infrastructure at an IDF base in southern Israel during the attack as well, according to IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
The IDF has updated that the full Iranian attack consisted of over 300 threats, of which 100 were ballistic missiles launched from Iran. Another 30 cruise missiles were launched from the Islamic Republic, along with drones. There were also two rounds of rockets, around 40 total, fired on Israel from Lebanon, with Israel responding with counterattacks in close to real-time.
None of the drones or cruise missiles entered Israeli airspace. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari noted that only a small number of ballistic missiles penetrated the Jewish state's airspace.
Almost all interceptions have been by aircraft, David's Sling, or the Arrow missile systems. The Iron Dome, which defends well against Hamas and Hezbollah's simple rockets, is less relevant for drones and fancier long-range missiles.
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— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) April 13, 2024
Iran confirmed that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had launched a missile and drone attack against Israel. Despite the injury of civilians, Iran's Foreign Ministry said that Iran had conducted the attack against Israeli military bases. The ministry claimed that it conducted the strikes in "self-defense."
The IDF said that the wide number of rocket sirens was mostly not from rockets that entered Israeli territory but from pieces of rockets shot down outside of Israel, where the remains of the rocket's landing spots were unpredictable.
Still, the IDF said that, to date, the defense was historically effective.
IDF sources hinted at an Israeli response and historic achievements, including with the active backing of key allies, but did not give details about scope and timing.
US, UK, France, Jordan helped shoot down Iranian projectiles
Israel, the US, the UK, and Jordan worked to intercept the drones and missiles over Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel, according to foreign reports. France also assisted in shooting down the aerial threats.
The IDF said on Saturday night that it was ready to shoot drones down, though air defense is not hermetic. Israeli aircraft had reportedly already begun shooting down projectiles as of 12:00 a.m.
The IDF's shoot-down capabilities include aircraft, the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow missile system. In addition, the military can use GPS scrambling to disable certain kinds of attacking drones.
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Israeli sources told ABC News that cruise missiles had been launched from Iraq towards Israel. Al-Arabiya reported that the US was intercepting drones over Iraq and Syria.
Hezbollah said that they had fired dozens of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon towards the Golan Heights on Saturday night, setting off sirens in Snir.
On Sunday morning, about 30 rockets were fired again from Lebanon toward northern Israel. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for that rocket fire as well, saying it came in response to Israeli strikes on towns in southern Lebanon earlier in the night. One of the rockets fell in Katzrin, causing heavy damage to property but no injuries.
The IDF confirmed that more than 100 drones have been launched by Iran, while defense sources had earlier told The Jerusalem Post that hundreds had been fired.
Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze UAV over Iraq at very low altitude, heading to Israel. pic.twitter.com/HpWeqXMMep
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 13, 2024
The Islamic Republic's attack comes after it accused Israel of killing top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi on April 1, who had directed its proxy attacks on Israel in Lebanon and Syria, including being a top coordinator with Hezbollah.
The IDF declined to publicly commit to a preemptive strike on Iran now that the drones have been launched.
Iran's Mission to the UN stated at 1:06 a.m. that the attack on Israel "can be deemed concluded."
"However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!" added the Iranian mission.
Security cabinet gives Netanyahu, Gallant, Gantz authority to determine response
The Security Cabinet gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and minister-without-portfolio Benny Gantz the authority to make decisions concerning further action against Iran early Sunday morning.
Ofir Gendelman, the prime minister's spokesperson to Arabic media, warned that Israel's response to the Iranian attack will be "firm and clear" in statements to Al-Arabiya on Saturday night.
Israeli airspace closes as attack begins, Home Front Command prepared
The Israel Airports Authority announced that Israeli airspace would close starting at 12:30 a.m. local time.
The commander of the IDF's Home Front Command, Rafi Milo, called on Israelis to "continue to be cautious and listen to directives; they can change depending on the assessment of the situation."
"To date, your conduct and adherence to the instructions has been exceptional; keep it up - it saves lives," added Milo. "The Home Front Command is deployed and prepared throughout the country."
"We have been at war on several fronts for over six months. Throughout the war we faced and rubbed shoulders with a large number of challenges in a very wide variety of threats, we learned and improved - we arrive prepared and strong both in defense and attack."
The Health Ministry ordered hospitals to be on alert and increase the staff at medical institutions early Sunday morning. Vacations for medical staff were canceled.
Jordan takes part in intercepting Iranian attack
Shortly after the Iranian strike began, Iraqi officials announced that Iraqi airspace was being closed. Lebanon and Jordan also decided to close their airspace on Saturday night.
A number of drones were seen flying from the direction of Iran over Iraq's Sulaymaniya province, three security sources told Reuters on Saturday. Additional waves of drones and missiles were spotted over other areas in Iraq and Jordan later in the night.
Drones and missiles were spotted over #Jordan heading towards #Israel. pic.twitter.com/PgTFGJ3Cef
— Tammuz Intel (@Tammuz_Intel) April 13, 2024
"Dozens of drones were spotted flying from Iran in the direction of Israel over Iraqi airspace," two Iraqi security sources also told Reuters.
Jordanian jets shot down dozens of Iranian drones, two regional security sources told Reuters.
Egypt's air defense is on alert, Egyptian military and security sources said late on Saturday, amid fears of an Iranian drone attack aimed towards Israel.
Egypt's military General Command has formed a team to monitor the situation and make any necessary decisions regarding the country's airspace, the sources said.
British Royal Air Force jets in the Middle East "will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required" after Iran targeted Israel with drones and missiles, the country's Ministry of Defence said late Saturday.
"In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks," the statement added.
Iraqi security sources told Arabic media that several Iranian missiles fell near Yusufiya, south of Baghdad on Saturday night.
یکی از شهروندان ویدیویی از شیراز به ایراناینترنشنال ارسال کرده و گفته است که پهپاد سقوط کرد و منهدم شد. pic.twitter.com/p5uAtEGzIX
— ايران اينترنشنال (@IranIntl) April 14, 2024
An Iranian drone also fell in Shiraz in south-central Iran, according to Iran International.
Iranian attack sparks panic in Iran, Lebanon
Long lines were reported at gas stations in Iran and Lebanon as residents rushed to prepare for an expected escalation in the region in light of Iran's attack against Israel.
Netanyahu: Whoever harms us, we will harm them
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video message before the attack said that "in recent years, and even more so in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack from Iran.
He warned Tehran that "whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will protect ourselves from any threat and we will do so with steadfastness and determination."
"Together we will overcome all our enemies," he said as he urged Israelis to listen to the Home Front Command directives and thanked Israel's allies such as the US, France and Great Britain for standing with the Jewish state..
"Our defense systems are deployed. We are prepared for any scenario, both in defense and attack," Netanyahu said, as he stressed that the IDF, the state and the public were strong.
Biden: Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad
US President Joe Biden and Netanyahu spoke over the phone early Sunday morning for about half an hour.
Biden said he reaffirmed "America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel" in his conversation with Netanyahu, adding that "Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks – sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel."
The US president added that he would convene leaders of the G7 to coordinate a "united diplomatic response to Iran's brazen attack."
"My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders. And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people," added Biden.
Biden additionally told Netanyahu that the US would not take part in any offensive operations against Iran, CNN reported on Sunday morning.
According to CNN, Biden told Netanyahu that Israel should consider the success in intercepting the Iranian attack a "win."
Axios reported as well that Biden told Netanyahu that he would oppose any Israeli counterattack against Iran and that the US would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran.
NBC reported that top US officials are concerned that Israel could react quickly in response to the Iranian attack "without thinking through potential fallout afterward," adding that Biden has privately expressed concerns that Netanyahu is trying to "drag the US more deeply into a broader conflict."
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asked Gallant to notify the US of any potential response to the Iranian attack, a US official told CNN early Sunday morning.
The UN Security Council was reportedly set to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon in light of the attack.
Reuters contributed to this report.