Iran heightened tensions in the Middle East by launching a significant attack on Israel late Saturday night, deploying numerous drones and missiles.
The assault was a retaliatory measure following an airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of seven Iranian military officials. This marked the first instance of Iran directly targeting Israel from its own soil, according to Israeli authorities.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari indicated that the attack, announced by Israeli officials at around 4 p.m. ET, was expected to extend over several hours, with multiple waves of drones and missiles.
Precautionary measures were advised, including seeking refuge in safe rooms upon hearing sirens, and Israel disabled GPS capabilities nationwide as a security measure.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps described the attack as a “large-scale military operation” targeting various locations within Israel. Over 100 drones were reportedly launched by Iran, prompting Israel to position aircraft to intercept them.
Current and former U.S. officials suggested that Iran’s drones likely had fixed targets and may not be redirected mid-air. They anticipated Israel’s missile defense system, the Iron Dome, to intercept cruise or ballistic missiles.
In a parallel development, Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, claimed responsibility for launching rockets toward an Israeli military base in the occupied Golan Heights early Sunday, further escalating tensions in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured Israelis of readiness for any scenario, both defensively and offensively, emphasizing a principle of retaliating against any harm inflicted upon the country.
The White House confirmed the attack, reaffirming President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel’s security.
This attack occurred days after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised retaliation for an earlier strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.
The escalating conflict had heightened concerns globally, particularly since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in October.
Egypt’s foreign affairs ministry denounced Iran’s attack as a “dangerous escalation” and urged restraint to prevent further destabilization in the region.
Notably, Iran has long provided support to Hamas, although the White House did not directly link Iran to the October attack on Israel.
The incident represents a significant escalation in tensions, reminiscent of Iran’s previous actions, such as the 2020 ballistic missile strike on the Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq, in response to the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike.
