Iran attack Israel: The recent barrage of drones and missiles targeting Israel overnight on Sunday has escalated tensions and added a layer of uncertainty and confrontation in the Middle East.
This aggressive move by Iran was in retaliation to a purported Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, earlier in the month.
This Iran attack Israel has intensified the long-standing discord between the two nations, which has been escalating since Israel declared war on Hamas last October.
The future actions are uncertain, but Israel is now facing calls from its allies to avoid escalating to open warfare and to seek a route toward de-escalation.
Iran has started its airborne attack against Israel: White House
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) April 13, 2024
Source: Twitter/Sidhant Sibal
How did Iran attack Israel?
Overnight Iran attack Israel, an intense aerial assault targeted Israel, launching more than 300 projectiles including around 170 drones and over 120 ballistic missiles.
According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari, the barrage involved approximately 350 rockets originating from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. However, the Israeli military and its allies successfully intercepted "99%" of these projectiles, with only a few reaching Israeli soil.
The focus of Tehran’s offensive was the Nevatim airbase, claimed by an Iranian army official to be the site from which an earlier Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in early April was conducted.
Some points regarding the overnight Iranian missile attack on Israel:
1. Contrary to what pundits are saying, this wasn’t designed merely as “bells and whistles” with no damage.
When you shoot 350 flying objects timed to hit Israel at the same moment,
when you use three…— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) April 14, 2024
Source: Twitter/nsftalibennett
Despite Iranian ballistic missiles landing at the airbase located in southern Israel, the damage was minimal and only affected structures lightly, as stated by Hagari. The airbase remains operational, with aircraft continuing to take off and land.
A high-ranking US military official reported on Sunday that the overall impact in Israel was minimal, with no significant damage. Additionally, US naval forces in the eastern Mediterranean intercepted between four to six Iranian ballistic missiles.
while US aircraft downed over 70 Iranian one-way UAVs aiming for Israel. Moreover, a US Army Patriot missile battery in Erbil, Iraq, successfully neutralized one ballistic missile.
Why did Iran attack Israel?
Israel and Iran have a longstanding history of rivalry and covert conflicts.
Tensions have escalated due to Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas, which intensified after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7.
Additionally, Iranian-supported groups in Iraq and Syria have targeted US military bases, and Iranian leaders have declared that their allied forces will continue attacks until Israel ceases its military actions in Gaza.
Concerns about a potential regional conflict increased in early April following Iran's accusation that Israel had bombed its diplomatic facility in Syria.
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