Booms and air raid sirens echoed across Israel early Sunday following a massive assault by Iran, involving hundreds of drones and missiles. This aggressive move by Tehran comes as a direct retaliation, escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to Associated Press.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a military spokesperson, reported that Iran launched 170 drones, over 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles, marking a significant military confrontation. Despite the scale of the attack, Hagari highlighted a “very significant strategic success,” with 99% of the missiles intercepted, mostly outside of Israel’s borders.
The military action resulted in minor damage to an Israeli air base and serious injuries to a 7-year-old girl in southern Israel, with authorities still investigating the exact cause of her injuries.
In response to the attack, U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that American forces played a crucial role in downing “nearly all” the drones and missiles. He also expressed his commitment to convene allies to formulate a unified response.
The Iranian attack follows a suspected Israeli airstrike in Syria on April 1, which killed two Iranian generals. This incident marked Iran’s first direct military action against Israel, intensifying the long-standing animosity between the two nations that dates back to Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Global reactions were swift, with the United Nations and countries like France, Britain, and Germany condemning the attack and expressing concerns about further military escalation.