Iran launched a series of drone and cruise missile attacks against Israel on Saturday, according to U.S. officials. The strikes, which mark the first time Iran has directly attacked Israel from its own territory, have raised concerns about the potential for a regional war and prompted a swift response from both Israel and the United States.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson confirmed the attacks in a statement, saying, "Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran." The Biden administration anticipates the attack to involve around 100 drones, dozens of cruise missiles, and dozens of ballistic missiles, targeting Israeli government sites rather than civilian or religious sites or U.S. assets in the area.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that Israel would work "in close coordination" with the U.S. and regional partners to intercept the launches, adding, "We are monitoring the threat in the airspace. It is a threat that takes several hours to reach the territory of the State of Israel." In response to the attacks, Israel announced the temporary closure of its airspace and the implementation of measures to protect its citizens, including the closure of schools and limitations on gatherings in certain areas starting Sunday.
The attacks come amid heightened strains between Iran and Israel, particularly following Iran's accusation that Israel perpetrated an attack on its consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed a top Iranian general. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the launches in a statement, saying they were "in response to the crimes by the Zionist Regime." Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had previously pledged to retaliate against Israel for the Damascus strike, prompting Israel to threaten a counterattack of its own.
President Joe Biden, who was en route back to the White House earlier than initially scheduled, met with his national security team, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to discuss the growing prospect of an Iranian strike. The White House had been anticipating an attack and communicating with Israel to ensure they would be prepared to defend themselves.
The drone and missile launches followed the seizure of a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship with links to Israel by Iran's Revolutionary Guard in the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Saturday, a move that was swiftly condemned by the White House.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, stating, "Our defensive systems are deployed; we are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. We have determined a clear principle: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will defend ourselves against any threat and will do so level-headedly and with determination."
The U.S. has vowed to support Israel in countering the Iranian attack, with the National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson emphasizing, "This attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours. President Biden has been clear: our support for Israel's security is ironclad." Two Israeli officials told Axios that the plan is to intercept many of the drones outside Israeli airspace with the help of the U.S. and other countries.
