Sunday 14 April , 2024 {HMC} Israel said Sunday that Iran launched 320 warheads against it in “an unprecedented attack,” but that its air defenses along with those of the United States and other supportive countries shot down 99% of them.
“They failed in their attack,” Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, told CNN.
Lerner said Tehran targeted a military base that Iran said was used to launch the April 1 attack on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus that killed two Iranian generals. He said the overnight airstrike “didn’t cause much damage.”
The IDF spokesperson said Iran launched 170 explosive drones against Israel, 120 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles, with most of them coming directly from Iranian territory although some were fired by Iranian militant proxies based in Iraq and Yemen.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told CNN that the “vast majority” of the warheads were launched from Iran. “There was no way to do what they did without violating international air space,” sending them over other countries in the region as it targeted Israel.
A few of the projectiles landed in Israel but most were shot down before they reached Israeli airspace.
Officials said one young Arab-Israeli girl was critically injured when hit by shrapnel, the only reported casualty.
Kirby called the defense of Israel from the Iranian attacks “an incredible military achievement.” He said there was “not very much” damage in Israel.
Iran warned Israel and the United States on Sunday of a much larger response if Israel attempts to retaliate for the attacks on its territory.
Iran said it had ended its assault on Israel, but Lerner said, “We don’t necessarily take their word,” adding that “just this morning,” Iran-backed Hezbollah militants had fired on Israel from Lebanon.
Kirby said that while the U.S. helped knock down incoming Iranian warheads, it has told Israel it “will not participate in an attack on Iran.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his war Cabinet to discuss a response to the Iranian attack.
“We intercepted, we repelled, together we shall win,” Netanyahu said on social media.
Iran urged Israel not to retaliate for the strikes.
“The matter can be deemed concluded,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said in a post on social media platform X.
“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” the mission said.
The Group of Seven leading industrial countries, or G7, met in a video conference Sunday, later saying they “unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel.
“With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation,” the G7 said. “This must be avoided.”
The session was called by Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the group. Its members include Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States.
The aerial attack on Israel from Iranian territory marked a major escalation in the conflict between the rival regional powers and prompted action by U.S. forces in support of Israel.
Video posted on social media late Saturday showed some of the projectiles being intercepted over central and southern Israel and others hitting the ground and exploding as sirens wailed.
In a message sent to VOA, Israeli reserves Brig. Gen. Jacob Nagel, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu, said Israeli forces were assisted by their U.S., British, Jordanian and Saudi allies in intercepting the Iranian projectiles.
A U.S. military official confirmed to VOA that U.S. forces shot down Iranian-launched drones targeting Israel.
JUST IN: US forces “intercepted dozens of missiles & UAVs [drones] en route to #Israel, launched from #Iran, #Iraq, #Syria & #Yemen” per @SecDec Lloyd Austin
Adds, “Our forces remain postured to protect US troops & partners in the region” pic.twitter.com/IYJqIK7Nxh
— Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) April 14, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu late Saturday. The official said Biden’s national security team “will continue to work with partners in the region to prevent further escalation.”
As the Iranian assault began, Netanyahu said in a televised message that Israel would defend itself “against any threat and will do so level-headedly and with determination.”
At around the same time, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson issued a statement saying the United States will “stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”
“This attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours. President Biden has been clear: our support for Israel’s security is ironclad,” Watson said.
Netanyahu acknowledged that support in his own statement, saying, “We appreciate the U.S. standing alongside Israel, as well as the support of Britain, France and many other countries.”
SOURCE VOA
