IDF warns that threat is ongoing, interceptions continue

Iran attacks Israel: IDF warns that threat is ongoing, interceptions continue

JPost

YONAH JEREMY BOB, TZVI JOFFRE, TOVAH LAZAROFF

Sirens blared across Israel on Saturday night as hundreds of drones and missiles launched from Iran reached Israel. Drones and missiles were also reportedly launched from Yemen and other countries around the region.

A seven-year-old girl from a Bedouin village near Arad was seriously wounded by the Iranian attack, according to Magen David Adom. Minor damage was caused to infrastructure at an IDF base in southern Israel during the attack as well, according to IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari.

At 3:00 a.m., IDF Chief Spokesman Daniel Hagari said that Iran had launched a large-scale massive swarm of over 200 killer drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles toward Israel. "Together [with our partners], we are operating at this very moment. So far, we have intercepted a vast majority of missiles, attack drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles outside of Israel's border," he said.

Hagari stressed that the Iranian attack was not over yet. Almost all interceptions have been by aircraft, David's Sling, or the Arrow missile systems. The Iron Dome, which defends well against Hamas and Hezbollah's simple rockets, is less relevant for drones and fancier long-range missiles.

Iran confirmed as well that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had launched a missile and drone attack against Israel. Despite the injury of civilians, Iran's Foreign Ministry said that Iran had conducted the attack against Israeli military bases. The ministry claimed that it conducted the strikes in "self-defense."

Ofir Gendelman, the prime minister's spokesperson to Arabic media, warned that Israel's response to the Iranian attack will be "firm and clear" in statements to Al-Arabiya on Saturday night.

About 150 missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israel as of 3:00 a.m., according to ABC news.

Israel, the US, the UK, and Jordan worked to intercept the drones and missiles over Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel, according to foreign reports.

Israeli sources told ABC News that cruise missiles had been launched from Iraq towards Israel. Al-Arabiya reported that the US was intercepting drones over Iraq and Syria. Hezbollah said that they had fired dozens of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon towards the Golan Heights on Saturday night, setting off sirens in Snir.

The IDF confirmed that more than 100 drones have been launched by Iran, while the defense sources had earlier told The Jerusalem Post that hundreds had been fired.

IDF sources would neither confirm nor deny reports of shooting down drones in Syrian airspace based on operational considerations. The IDF said that it was ready to shoot drones down, though air defense is not hermetic. Israeli aircraft had reportedly already begun shooting down projectiles as of 12:00 a.m.

Security cabinet gives Netanyahu, Gallant, Gantz authority to determine response

The Security Cabinet gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and minister-without-portfolio Benny Gantz the authority to make decisions concerning further action against Iran early Sunday morning.

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