The spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Iran launched a “large-scale attack” on Israel on Saturday night with “more than 200 drones, ballistic and cruise missiles.” Daniel Hagari stated that “the vast majority of the missiles were intercepted” and that some “caused minor damage to a military base in the south of the country.” The spokesperson reported that a girl had been injured but hopes that she will recover favorably.
“This is a serious and dangerous escalation,” said Hagari, who added that Israeli forces continue to “intercept planes and cruise missiles heading toward Israeli territory: the event is not over yet.”
“Together with our partners, the Israel Defense Forces are operating in full force to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel. This is a mission that we are determined and willing to fulfill,” he assured.
Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had confirmed that it launched an attack with dozens of missiles and drones against Israel in response to the bombing of Iran’s consulate in Syria.
“In response to numerous Israeli crimes, including the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and the assassination of several commanders and military advisors of our country in Syria, the aerospace force of the Revolutionary Guard has attacked certain targets in the occupied territories with the launch of dozens of missiles and drones,” the Iranian military body indicated in a statement collected by the state agency IRNA.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured this Saturday that Israel is “prepared” to face a “direct attack from Iran,” which threatened retaliation for the bombing in Damascus on April 1. “We are prepared for any scenario, both in terms of defense and attack,” Netanyahu said in a televised speech, adding that Israel has the support of the United States and “many other countries.”
For its part, the White House reported that the drone attack that Iran launched this Saturday against Israel will likely last “several hours,” while promising to support its ally’s defense against Tehran.
“This attack is likely to unfold over several hours,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement, adding that “the United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”
Israel has several levels of air defense capable of intercepting everything from long-range missiles to unmanned aerial vehicles and short-range rockets. Hagari affirmed that Israel has an “excellent air defense system,” but stressed that it is not 100% effective and urged the population to pay attention to security announcements.
The escalation comes against the backdrop of the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, in power in the Gaza Strip, triggered by a bloody raid by Islamist commandos in southern Israel on October 7.
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