Booms and air raid sirens sounded across Israel on Saturday. Iran launched more than 300 drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles in a revenge mission. The action marks the first time Iran has directly attacked Israel.
Iran vowed revenge after an April 1 airstrike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals. Iranian officials accused Israel of being behind that attack.
Iran fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles toward Israel. Several missiles reached Israel. They caused minor damage to an air base. But Israel says its air defense system stopped 99% of the weapons.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari calls the outcome a “strategic success” for his country.
Iran’s attack is the latest challenge to Israel’s air defense system. It has been working overtime to cope with rocket, drone, and missile attacks throughout the war against Hamas.
Israel’s air defense includes its Arrow system. It intercepts long-range missiles like those Iran launched Saturday. Israel has also used the anti-ballistic missile system to intercept long-range missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi militants. Another defensive weapon is David’s Sling. It stops medium-range missiles, such as those from the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Iron Dome system tracks and shoots down short-range rockets. It has intercepted thousands of rockets, including during the current war against Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel says it has a success rate of over 90%.
Censure from other countries for Iran’s strike came swiftly. France says Iran “is risking a potential military escalation.” Great Britain called the attack “reckless.” Germany says Iran and its proxies “must stop it immediately.”
Asked whether Israel would respond, Hagari said only that the army “does and will do whatever is required to protect the security of the state of Israel.”
President Joe Biden issued a statement. “To support the defense of Israel, the U.S. military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region,” he says. He adds that “our servicemembers . . . helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles.”
President Biden reaffirmed “America’s ironclad commitment” to Israel’s security. His statement departed from his recent criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. In February, he had said that Israel’s campaign was “over the top” and that many innocent people were dying.
Israel and Iran have been on a collision course throughout Israel’s six-month war against Hamas in Gaza. The war erupted after Hamas and Islamic Jihad—two terrorist groups backed by Iran—carried out a cross-border attack on October 7. Attackers killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others.
The Israeli response has caused widespread destruction. Over 33,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict, according to local health officials.
After the war was kindled, Hezbollah began attacking Israel’s northern border. The two sides exchange fire almost daily. Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have also launched rockets and missiles toward Israel.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency carried a statement from the country’s militants. It was a direct warning to the United States. “The terrorist U.S. government is warned any support or participation in harming Iran’s interests will be followed by [a] decisive . . . response by Iran’s armed forces.”
UPDATE: On Monday, Israeli forces vowed that there would be a response to Iran's attack, but details of that response were not yet expressed.
Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the Earth. — Jeremiah 9:24
