TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel on Sunday hailed its air defenses within the face of an unprecedented assault by Iran, saying the methods thwarted 99% of the greater than 300 drones and missiles launched towards its territory. Regional tensions have been excessive amid fears of an Israeli counter-strike that would gasoline additional escalation.
U.S. President Joe Biden convened a gathering of the Group of Seven superior democracies “to coordinate a united diplomatic response.” The members unanimously condemned the assault and mentioned they “stand able to take additional measures now and in response to additional destabilizing initiatives.”
The U.S. made clear it will not take part in any offensive motion in opposition to Iran. “We don’t search a warfare with Iran. We’re not searching for escalation right here,” White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby informed NBC.
Iran launched the assault in response to a strike broadly blamed on Israel that hit an Iranian consular constructing in Syria earlier this month and killed two Iranian generals. Israel mentioned Iran launched 170 drones, greater than 30 cruise missiles and greater than 120 ballistic missiles.
By Sunday morning, Iran mentioned the assault was over, and Israel reopened its airspace. Israel’s Warfare Cupboard held a gathering.
“We are going to construct a regional coalition and gather the worth from Iran, in the way in which and on the time that fits us,” mentioned a key Warfare Cupboard member, Benny Gantz.
The 2 foes have for years been engaged in a shadow warfare marked by assaults such because the Damascus strike. However Sunday’s assault, which set off air-raid sirens throughout Israel, was the primary time Iran has launched a direct navy assault on Israel, regardless of a long time of enmity relationship again to the nation’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Israel has through the years established — typically with the assistance of america — a multilayered air-defense community that features methods able to intercepting quite a lot of threats, together with long-range missiles, cruise missiles, drones and short-range rockets.
That system, together with collaboration with the U.S. and others, helped thwart what might have been a much more devastating assault at a time when Israel is already slowed down in its warfare in opposition to Hamas in Gaza and engaged in low-level preventing on its northern border with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia. Each Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Iran.
Israeli and U.S. officers praised the response to the aerial assault.
“Iran launched greater than 300 threats and 99% have been intercepted,” mentioned Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli navy spokesman. “That may be a success.” Requested if Israel would reply, Hagari mentioned the nation would do what was wanted to guard its residents.
Hagari mentioned not one of the drones and cruise missiles reached Israel and that only some ballistic missiles acquired by. Of the cruise missiles, 25 have been shot down by the Israeli air pressure, he mentioned.
Hagari mentioned minor harm was induced to an Israeli airbase, however he mentioned it was nonetheless functioning. Rescuers mentioned a 7-year-old lady was significantly wounded in southern Israel, apparently in a missile strike, although police have been nonetheless investigating the circumstances.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a message on X: “We intercepted. We blocked. Collectively, we are going to win.” Protection Minister Yoav Gallant thanked the U.S. and different nations for his or her help.
Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the chief of workers of the Iranian armed forces, mentioned the operation was over, the state-run IRNA information company reported. “Now we have no intention of constant the operation in opposition to Israel,” he was quoted as saying.
Iran mentioned it focused Israeli amenities concerned within the Damascus strike, and that it informed the White Home early Sunday that the operation could be “minimalistic.” Turkey mentioned it acted as middleman for the messages.
Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, claimed Iran had taught Israel a lesson and warned that “any new adventures in opposition to the pursuits of the Iranian nation could be met with a heavier and regretful response from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued a brand new risk in opposition to the U.S., saying “any help or participation in harming Iran’s pursuits” shall be adopted by a decisive response by Iran’s armed forces.
The success of Israel’s protection stands in sharp distinction to the failures it endured throughout Hamas’ assault on Oct. 7. Dealing with a far much less highly effective enemy in Hamas, Israel’s border defenses collapsed, and the navy took days to repel the militants — an embarrassing defeat for the Center East’s strongest and best-equipped military.
Whereas thwarting the Iranian onslaught might assist restore Israel’s picture, what it does subsequent shall be carefully watched within the area and in Western capitals.
In Washington, Biden mentioned U.S. forces helped Israel down “almost all” the drones and missiles and pledged to convene allies to develop a unified response. U.Ok. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned Britain’s air pressure shot down numerous Iranian drones. Jordan, which sits between Israel and Iran, indicated that its navy additionally assisted.
Biden later spoke with Netanyahu. “I informed him that Israel demonstrated a outstanding capability to defend in opposition to and defeat even unprecedented assaults — sending a transparent message to its foes that they can’t successfully threaten the safety of Israel,” Biden mentioned.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the U.S. would maintain talks with allies within the coming days.
Israel and Iran have been on a collision course all through Israel’s six-month warfare in opposition to Hamas militants in Gaza. Within the Oct. 7 assault, militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, additionally backed by Iran, killed 1,200 folks in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. An Israeli offensive in Gaza has induced widespread devastation and killed over 33,000 folks, in accordance with native well being officers.
In different developments, negotiations meant to deliver a couple of cease-fire in change for the discharge of the hostages appeared to hit a setback. Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned Hamas rejected the newest proposal for a deal, which had been offered to Hamas per week in the past by mediators Qatar, Egypt and america.
A Hamas official mentioned the group desires a “clear written dedication” that Israel will withdraw from Gaza throughout the second of a three-phase cease-fire deal. The deal offered requires a six-week cease-fire in Gaza, throughout which Hamas would launch 40 of the greater than 100 hostages the group is holding within the enclave in change for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s jails, together with 100 serving lengthy sentences for severe crimes.
Hamas welcomed Iran’s assault, saying it was “a pure proper and a deserved response” to the strike in Syria. It urged the Iran-backed teams within the area to proceed to help Hamas within the warfare.
Nearly instantly after the warfare erupted, Hezbollah started attacking Israel’s northern border. The 2 sides have been concerned in every day exchanges of fireside, whereas Iranian-backed teams in Iraq, Syria and Yemen have launched rockets and missiles towards Israel.
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Related Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington; Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; Samy Magdy in Cairo; Omar Akour in Amman, Jordan; and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed to this report.
