Iran has made good on its threat and directly attacked Israel, its declared arch-enemy, for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic. According to the Israeli military, Iran fired around 300 drones and missiles during the major night attack. According to its own information, the Israeli military was able to intercept the vast majority of the projectiles. What happened and what could happen next.
What happened that night?
It took place in various places in Israel on Sunday night Missile alert triggered. According to the army, the warning sirens blared, among other things southat the Dead Seain the Greater Jerusalem area as well as in north of the country. According to army spokesman Daniel Hagari, a girl was injured. In addition, a military base in the south of the country was hit and slightly damaged.
99 percent of the bullets fired were intercepted, said Hagari. In the morning he spoke of a “very significant strategic success” against more than 300 “threats of various kinds”.
According to the White House, Israel was able to “intercept almost all incoming drones and missiles” thanks to the help of the US military. After a few hours, Israel’s homeland security finally gave up All clear: Residents in the north and south of the country no longer have to stay near shelters, it said. The Iranian retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on the embassy compound in Syria’s capital Damascus had been expected for days.
How is the international community reacting?
The UN Security Council in New York is expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday. UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasizes the risk of a catastrophic deterioration of the situation in the Middle East. “I am deeply concerned about the very real threat of devastating escalation across the region,” he said in New York. He condemned Iran’s attack “in the strongest possible terms” and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell wrote on X: “This is an unprecedented escalation and a serious threat to regional security.”
US President Joe Biden phoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that night. The White House subsequently said Biden condemned the Iranian attack “in the strongest possible terms” and reaffirmed the US’s “iron-clad commitment” to Israel’s security.
Italy is calling an emergency meeting for the afternoon Heads of state and government of the seven most powerful western industrial nations (G7) a. This is reported by employees of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office. Italy currently holds the presidency of the G7.
In Berlin it’s coming on Sunday Federal government crisis team together. The German Foreign Ministry said that the committee would meet at the Foreign Office under the leadership of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) because of the Iranian attack.
Why did Iran attack Israel?
The history: On April 1st there was a suspected one Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus. Brigadier Generals Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji as well as five other members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were killed.
F-35 fighter jets are said to have fired several missiles at the site, which officially served as the Iranian consulate building. The blow was so precise that the buildings to the right and left of it remained undamaged.
(Photo: Uncredited/dpa)
Iran’s head of state Ayatollah Ali Khamenei then broadcast Threats against Israel. The attack was like an attack on Iranian territory and must be punished, the religious leader said. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also called for retaliation. And Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian emphasized that the attack was a breach of all international agreements.
The Israeli military declined to officially comment on the attack. According to one Report of the New York Times However, four unnamed Israeli officials confirmed that the Israeli Air Force was responsible for the attack.
How does Israel react?
It remains to be seen whether and how Israel will respond to the massive Iranian retaliation with a counterattack. The security cabinet has authorized Netanyahu as well as Benny Gantz, minister in the war cabinet, and defense minister Joav Gallant to make decisions about how to proceed, Channel 12 reported.
“A direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran,” Gallant warned on Friday. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin once again assured Gallant of the US’s unwavering support on Sunday night, the Pentagon announced.