Iran launches missiles, drones on Israel; All intercepted, shot down, say US

Iran’s IRGC late in the night Saturday launched ‘hundreds of missiles and drones’ on Israel retaliating the Israeli airstrike on its Consulate in Damascus two weeks ago.

Sunday April 14, 2024 12:00 PM, ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

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Tehran/Tel Aviv: Iran’s IRGC late in the night Saturday launched ‘hundreds of missiles and drones’ on Israel retaliating the Israeli airstrike on its Consulate in Damascus two weeks ago.

The United States while confirming the Iranian attack on Israel said all but few missiles and drones were intercepted and shot down.

The Israeli military officials in Tel Aviv on the other hand said the ‘barrage of Iranian missiles and drones’ could do nothing except minor damages.

'A swarm of explosive drones, missiles'

Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, risking a major escalation as the United States pledged “ironclad” backing for Israel.

Sirens wailed and journalists in Israel said they heard distant heavy thuds and bangs from what local media called aerial interceptions of explosive drones. The ambulance service said there was no immediate word of casualties.

The Nevatim air base in occupied territories, which houses US F-35 fighter jets used in Tel Aviv’s genocidal assaults on Gaza, has been successfully targeted by Iranian missiles. pic.twitter.com/d8KdxbrQvX
— Press TV (@PressTV) April 14, 2024

Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, has said that Iran launched more than 200 projectiles at Israel and that the “vast majority” of them have been intercepted with air defence systems and assistance from “partners”.

“A number of Iranian missiles fell inside Israeli territory, causing minor damage to a military base with no casualties. Only one little girl has been hurt, and we hope she will be well,” he said.

Hagari, however, stressed that the attack is ongoing and said the Israeli military is “operating at full force” to fend it off.

US President Joe Biden said America helped Israel take down "nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles", according to the White House.

US and British warplanes were involved in shooting down some Israel-bound drones over the Iraq-Syria border area, Channel 12 reported.

Three US officials said the US military had shot down drone aircraft without disclosing the exact number.

The Reuters news agency said Jordanian forces also shot down Iranian drones flying across northern and central Jordan heading in the direction of Jerusalem.

Numerous unverified videos circulating online meanwhile purport to show several projectiles making it through Israeli anti-aircraft defenses, hitting targets on the ground.

Iran cites self-defence

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UN Security Council (UNSC) President Vanessa Frazier, Tehran has emphasised that its attack on Israel is a legal and justified act of self-defence against Israeli “aggressions”.

Iran has invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter to justify its attack on Israel. The provision which grants countries the right to self-defence if they come under attack.

Iranians shout slogans in support of the country's retaliatory strikes on occupied territories pic.twitter.com/5NZGkV4ZB8
— Press TV (@PressTV) April 14, 2024

The Iranian mission to the UN decried the Security Council’s failure to condemn the deadly Israeli air raid on the country’s consulate in Damascus on April 1.

“As a responsible member of the United Nations, Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law and reiterates its consistent position that it does not seek escalation or conflict in the region,” the letter said.

At the same time, Iran warned that it will defend its people and interests against any threats.

UNSC Meeting Today

Meanwhile, Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan has written to the President of the Security Council formally requesting an emergency meeting on Iran’s drone strikes against Israel.

“The Iranian attack is a serious threat to global peace and security and I expect the Council to use every means to take concrete action against Iran,” Erdan said in the letter.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) in response has called a meeting at 04:00 pm New York time (20:00 GMT) Sunday, the council’s current president, Malta, said.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement “strongly condemning” the “large-scale attack launched on Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran this evening”.

Guterres described the attack as a “serious escalation” and called for “an immediate cessation of these hostilities”.

“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,” Guterres added.

“I have repeatedly stressed that neither the region nor the world can afford another war", he said.

The latest Iranian attack on Israel came a day after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship MSC Aries.

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