Iran made good on its threat and attacked Israel. Despite international warnings, he sent drones and missiles that have not yet reached Israeli airspace. The Israeli military said they were prepared for defense.
Iran has launched a drone attack against Israel. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari announced this late in the evening. It will take several hours for the drones to reach Israeli territory. This is expected in the early hours of the morning (local time). Israel is working closely with the US and its partners in the region to “address and intercept” the drones, Hagari added.
Iran’s state media also confirmed the “retaliatory strike”. “A broad drone operation by the Revolutionary Guards (…) began minutes ago,” said the subtitles on regime-controlled television shortly before midnight (local time). A little later it was said that rockets had also been fired.
“This is an unprecedented event”
It is Iran’s first direct attack on its arch-enemy Israel. Apparently it is a response to an airstrike attributed to Israel on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria. At the beginning of April, 16 people were killed. These included two generals from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and five other members of the elite force. Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened Israel with retaliation for the attack on Wednesday.
Israel’s military spokesman Hagari called the attacks a “serious and dangerous escalation.” Iran expert Sima Shine said on Israeli television: “This is an unprecedented event. Iran has changed its paradigm.” How Israel will respond to this is still unclear.
Iran’s defense minister warned Israel against counterattacks on his country. Any state that attacks Iran will receive a “decisive response,” General Mohammed-Reza Ashtiani said overnight, according to the state news agency Irna.
USA: “Probably over several hours”
An expert interviewed by Israel’s Channel 12, retired General Amos Yadlin, said the Iranian drones were each loaded with 20 kilograms of explosives. The Israeli air defense is prepared to shoot down the missiles.
The US government also confirmed the start of an Iranian air strike against Israel. US President Joe Biden will be continuously informed about the situation and will meet with his security team in the White House for consultations, said a spokeswoman for the National Security Council. The attack will “likely last several hours.”
Iran called on the US to stay out of its conflict with Israel. The Iranian attack was a response to Israel’s “aggression” against the consular building in Damascus, the Iranian mission to the UN explained in online service X. It is a conflict between Iran and Israel “from which the USA must stay away.” .
With regard to the attack on the consular building, the Iranian UN mission stated that the Iranian military operation against Israel was based on the right to self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. This means the “case can be considered closed”. “If the Israeli regime makes another mistake, Iran’s reaction will be significantly harsher,” the statement continued.
Schools closed, beaches closed
Israel had previously threatened Iran with “consequences” if the situation escalated further. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gathered the war cabinet at the headquarters in Tel Aviv. In the evening – shortly before the attack – he said in a televised speech that Israel was prepared for a “direct attack from Iran.” “Our defense systems are operational, we are prepared for any scenario, both in defense and in attack.”
Israel’s government also decided on a number of measures to protect the population. All educational institutions will be closed and beaches will be closed in the coming days. Larger gatherings were banned. The neighboring country of Jordan closed its airspace in the evening. Israel will also close its airspace overnight until morning. The German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, called on all Germans on site to follow the instructions of the security authorities.
With information from Jan-Christoph Kitzler, ARD Tel Aviv
Jan-Christoph Kitzler, ARD Tel Aviv, tagesschau, April 13, 2024 10:20 p.m