The Saturday evening fireworks show in the Middle East marked Tehran's first full-scale military attack on Israel. Although largely unsuccessful, concerns mount that US military bases in the region might be targeted with ballistic missiles and suicide drones if the US supports an Israeli retaliation strike.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari told The Washington Post that Iran launched 300 drones and missiles at Israel, adding that "more than 99 percent" had been intercepted by either Israel or the US. President Biden condemned Tehran's "brazen attack" on Israel and told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about America's "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security. However, the US president warned Netanyahu that the US won't support counterattack strikes against Iran.
Ahron Bregman, a political scientist and expert in Middle East security issues at King's College in London, told The New York Times that Iran's direct attack on Israel last night was the first of its kind from its own territory, calling it a "historic event."
Over the years, Tehran has used foreign proxies such as Lebanon's Hezbollah militia and Yemen's Houthi rebels to strike Israeli interests. At the moment, the Houthis are targeting US, UK, and Israeli-affiliated commercial vessels in the Southern Red Sea. And early Saturday, Iran seized an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran's attack on Israel is a major escalation. There are mounting concerns that Israel could strike back. If so, Iran warned Washington that US military bases could be in the crosshairs of missiles and suicide drones.
"Our response will be much larger than tonight's military action if Israel retaliates against Iran," Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, told state media, as quoted by The Times of Israel. He said that Tehran warned Washington that any backing of an Israeli retaliation strike would result in US bases being targeted.
"If the Zionist regime (Israel) or its supporters demonstrate reckless behavior, they will receive a decisive and much stronger response," Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi said in a statement.
Even before the attack, US bases in Iraq and Syria were peppered with attacks by Iran-backed militias. AP News said these bases were attacked more than 150 times since Oct. 7.
Meanwhile, Iran's Fars news agency spoke with a "source" who said Iranian military officials are closely monitoring developments in Jordan, which could be the next area to target.
Earlier this year, Iran-backed militias attacked a US base in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border with a drone that killed three US troops and injured three dozen.
Remember the discussion former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark had with CNBC on Friday, where he mentioned that a "direct strike on Israel" by Iran could compel the Israeli Air Force to target "nuclear assets" in the country?
Biden Tells Bibi: US Will Not Support A Counterattack Against Iran
TYLER DURDEN
Update(Midnight ET): It is just after 7am Israel local time and Israel's military is reporting the Iranian attack has stopped, several hours after Iran said its 'limited' operation has "concluded" - which involved an unprecedented hundreds of suicide drones as as well as ballistic missiles sent against Israel in retaliation for the April 1st Israeli attack on Iran's embassy in Damascus. Below is the top story from English-language Times of Israel:
Hebrew media reports claim that not a single drone or cruise missile managed to infiltrate Israeli airspace.
According to the unsourced reports, most ballistic missiles were also knocked down outside of Israeli airspace.
A report in Ynet says some 20 cruise missiles were downed short of Israel’s borders. The US, UK and Jordan helped take down many of the drones.
Israel is reporting very little damage inside the country (though previously admitting "minor damage" against at least one key airbase in the south).
After the enormous Iranian drone and missile swarm a senior Israeli official has been quoted by Israel's Channel 12 as saying "Iran’s attack was a strategic failure." The official added in a threatening manner, "Now they can get ready and not sleep in peace." Israel's war cabinet appears to be readying a military response...
Hebrew Media: The Cabinet approves the implementation of a strong response on Iranian soil
Crucially, the Biden White House appears to be strongly signaling to the Netanyahu government that the attack is 'done' and that the United States will not back any follow-up counterattack operations against Iran:
US President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US will not aid any Israeli counterattack on Iran, US media report, citing senior administration officials.
Axios and CNN report that message was passed during a phone call between the pair.
Axios reports that Biden told Netyanyahu the US will oppose any Israeli counterattack.
CNN reports that Biden said the US will not take part in any such counteraction.
Israel has called on a United Nations Security Council meeting to condemn the Iranian aggression, which is expected to take place late Sunday. The US administration appears to be lobbying for a status quo and for Israel to not mount a strong response.
1 comment:
Lies, lies and more lies from all involved. The all want war, so either their God is a God of war not mercy and peace, or they are all not people of God. I believe the second statement is true and the whole areas leadership are children of pure evil.
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