4/14/2024–|Last updated: 4/14/202410:57 AM (Mecca time)
Iran said that half of the missiles launched towards Israel last night successfully hit their targets, while the Israeli army confirmed that it intercepted 99% of the drones and missiles that were targeting Israel.
Iran launched last night First direct attack Against Israel in its history, using marches and missiles, this came in response to the Iranian consulate in Damascus at the beginning of this month being subjected to an Israeli missile attack that resulted in the killing of 7 members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including General Mohammad Reza Zahedi.
In its assessment of last night’s attack, the official “IRNA” agency confirmed that half of the missiles launched towards Israel successfully hit their targets, and said that Iranian forces successfully targeted an Israeli air base in the Negev using “Khaybar” missiles, and indicated that that base was the starting point for the attack on Iranian Consulate in Damascus.
For his part, the Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Major General Hossein Salami, said that the Iranian missiles and drones were able to cross the Israeli air defenses, and he confirmed that the Iranian attack led to the destruction of two important Israeli military sites.
Salami stressed that the Iranian attack has ended and there is no desire to continue it, but his country will respond strongly if Israel targets its interests, noting that if Washington participates in any attack against Iran, its bases in the region will be targeted and it will not be safe.
The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard considered that Israel crossed the red lines by targeting the Iranian consulate in Syria, and it was necessary to respond to it.
Israeli assessment
On the other hand, the Israeli army announced that it “thwarted” the Iranian attack, confirming that it had intercepted 99% of the drones and missiles that were targeting it, and described this as “an important strategic achievement.”
The army explained in a statement that Iran “launched more than 300 threats of various types,” including “ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles,” and stressed that “out of more than 120 ballistic missiles, a very small number penetrated the Israeli border… and landed at an air force base.” In Nafatim (in the south), it caused minor damage to a facility.”
The statement stated that “the base continues its work and tasks,” and that Iran “failed” in its belief that it would “paralyze the work of the air base and harm our air capabilities.”
For its part, Israeli Channel 12, citing the Israeli army, said that only 7 missiles penetrated the airspace out of 110 ballistic missiles launched by Iran.
The channel indicated that American and British fighters participated in shooting down some drones that were directed at Israel over the Iraqi-Syrian border area.
The Israeli army said that French military capabilities also participated in defending Israel in repelling the Iranian attack.
The New York Times quoted American officials as saying that the damage to Israel, according to the initial assessment, was relatively limited given the size of the attack.
The newspaper indicated that most of the launches were from Iran, and a small part of them were from Yemen and Iraq.
Israel reopened its airspace as of 04:30 AM on Sunday, GMT, after closing it due to the Iranian attack.
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The Israeli Mini-Ministerial Council for Security and Political Affairs (The cabinet) prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu And the Minister of Defense Yoav Galant And the minister Benny Gantz By making decisions to respond to the Iranian attack.
Gallant described the response to the Iranian attack as “impressive,” and confirmed that minor damage had been recorded. He said, “We are vigilant and prepared for any scenario, and the confrontation is not over yet, and we must remain vigilant.”
The New York Times quoted an Israeli official as saying that the response to the Iranian attack will be coordinated with the allies.
The former head of the Israeli Mossad, Yossi Cohen, advised against responding to the Iranian attack, considering that Israel should not waste the alliance that stood with us in confronting it.
For his part, the American President said: Joe Biden Today, Sunday, he will communicate with his counterparts in the G7 to coordinate a “unified diplomatic response” to Iran’s “brazen” attack.
Biden indicated in a statement that he assured the Israeli Prime Minister “the United States’ firm commitment to Israel’s security,” and added, “I told him that Israel has demonstrated a remarkable ability to defend itself in the face of unprecedented attacks and to thwart them, sending a clear message to its enemies that they cannot seriously threaten Israel’s security.
For his part, the American website Axios quoted a senior White House official as saying that Biden informed Netanyahu during a phone call that the United States would oppose any Israeli counterattack on Iran.
The US official said that Biden and his senior advisors are deeply concerned that the Israeli response to the Iranian attack will lead to a regional war with disastrous consequences.
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