Iran has launched drone attacks at Israel, U.S. officials say
By: Rebecca Picciotto (CNBC)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Iran on Saturday launched attacks against Israel, according to U.S. officials, escalating long-standing tensions between the two nations that have the potential to trigger a regional war.
"Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel," National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a Saturday statement. "The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran."
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Saturday that Israel would work "in close coordination" with the U.S. and regional partners to intercept the launches.
"We are monitoring the threat in the airspace. It is a threat that takes several hours to reach the territory of the State of Israel," he added.
Ahead of the attacks on Saturday, President Joe Biden was en route back to the White House, earlier than initially scheduled, to meet with his national security team, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, amid the growing prospect of an Iranian strike.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship with links to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route. The White House condemned the move shortly after.
In anticipation of the attacks, airspaces in Israel and throughout the region were being temporarily shut down.
Israel also announced that beginning on Sunday, it would close schools and limit gatherings to 1,000 people in certain areas.
Strains between Iran and Israel have been heating up since the start of the war in Gaza in October, and especially over the past several weeks after Iran accused Israel of perpetrating an attack on its consulate in Damascus on April 1.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a Saturday statement that the missile and drone launches were "in response to the crimes by the Zionist Regime."
Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had previously pledged to retaliate against Israel for the Damascus strike and Israel, in turn, threatened a counterattack of its own. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the Damascus attack.
"If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will react and attack in Iran," Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz wrote in a Wednesday post on X, tagging the Ayatollah's X account.
Given Iran's various warnings, the White House had been expecting an Iranian strike and had been communicating with Israel to ensure they would be prepared to defend themselves.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
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This is a very dangerous situation. It could be catastrophic if the Iranians launch cruise missiles or ballistic missiles, or if Hezbollah joins in the attack.
Absolutely,....[✘]
If they do it will be the last thing they do. I believe that Israel can and will defend itself successfully and will be able to launch a adequate counter attack to end the threat.
It’s not just drones. Ballistic missiles as well
Iranian state media is reporting the ballistic missiles.
Iran is also claiming that it has concluded its response for now.
How amicable of them...
After launching a totally disproportionate response to the attack in Syria.
That's their way of trying to tell the Israelis not to respond. Sorry, Iran, it's not going to work.
Many may be shot down over Jordanian and Lebanese air space.
There was a report that the Jordanians said they will shoot down any Iranian drones over their territory.
It appears they lied. Doesn't seem like they did.
That doesn't surprise me. I wondered if it might just be propaganda. Firing missiles into Israel would be the biggest miscalculation the Iranians could possibly make.
Latest development: U.S. officials report that the U.S. military has shot down some of the Iranian drones.
They are also showing Israeli tracer fire, or lights of some sort, over Jerusalem on TV. Possibly from flares and/or "Iron Dome".
Meanwhile, Biden has done his best to bolster and embolden this evil regime.
Biden continues Iran’s access to $10 billion just weeks after its proxy killed three American soldiers (msn.com)
US agrees to release $6bn in Iran funds as part of deal to free detained Americans | Iran | The Guardian
As usual, you state the exact opposite of the truth.
Apparently Iran succeeded with its attack in seriously injuring a 10 year old Bedouin boy in a Bedouin village.
I'm wondering why the launching of missiles and drones from one nation to attack another nation is not considered an act of war deserving as much of a retaliation as Israel has done to Gaza. If the intention is to wait until Iran develops its own atomic weapons, which it is bound to give its barbarian proxies who will have no compunctions about using them, then I'm even happier living in China since I don't particularly want to be close to a country that is bound to experience a "Sum of All Fears". So why wait till Spring, unless the wait is in order to get a taste of what those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced.
Same reason as having a complete military blockade on a people isn't an act of war. Nor is occupying and building settlements on their territory, allowing settlers to harass and kill civilians, and allowing the IDF to conduct unwarranted raids, arrests, and killings. Same reason violating another countries air space endlessly isn't an act of war.
Acts of war coming in many forms. It just depends on perspective. Oh, and if the country being abused can respond or not.
Never wonder why countries seek nuclear weapons. Mutual assured destruction is the only way to keep more powerful militaries at bay.
My congratulations to you Ronin2 for having actually posted a comment without using the word "Brandon". As for Mutual Assured Destruction, Iran's proxies would welcome becoming martyrs and be able to deflower and enjoy the pleasures of their 72 virgins for eternity in the Garden of Allah.
Don't you believe in a response?
Of course I do. Did I not respond to his response?
This "show of force" seems designed more for internal Iranian consumption as a face saving action. To Israel, it shows that Iran remains dangerous but inept.
The question now is, how does Israel respond? Reducing Iranian Air & Missile Defense, Military Industrial Complex, C2 Nodes, nuclear capability?
I have an interesting afterthought here. The 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and 100 ballistic missiles launched from Iran to Israel caused almost no damage or injuries whatsoever. Biden told Netanyahu "Take the win." I can understand what he means - Iran has shown either that it was totally incompetent in warfare, or it MEANT for there to not be much damage in order to make a point and to not cause a regional escalation. But Israel now can show it is "The bigger man", and NOT retaliate, which would help mend the tensions with the USA and not be a cause for a regional escalation. As well, not retaliating would indicate that Iran isn't worth the effort. I'm really curious to see what is going to happen now.