Iran launched a wave of missiles and drones toward Israel overnight as regional tensions continued to mount over the war in Gaza. President Biden condemned the attacks and spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reiterate the United States’ commitment to Israeli security. Iranian state media said the attack was in retaliation to an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria on April 1.
More than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles were launched by Iran late Saturday in the first full-scale military attack on Israel by Tehran.Although 99 percent of the projectiles were intercepted, according to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israel Defense Forces spokesman, some fell inside Israeli territory, and one damaged a military base in the country’s south. A 10-year-old girl was seriously injured in the attack, he added.Tehran’s attack was “four-pronged,” according to a report by the state-run Tasnim News Agency, originating from sites in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.The U.S. military helped Israel in taking down “nearly all” of the drones and missiles, Biden said in a statement, adding that he would convene Group of Seven leaders Sunday to coordinate a united diplomatic response.
Why did Iran attack Israel?
Iranian media said the attack was in retaliation for an Israeli strike this month on an Iranian consular building in Damascus, Syria, which killed members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including senior commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi.
Israel has carried out strikes in Syria against Iran and its allies for years and throughout its six-month military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. But the April 1 attack stood out both because of its location — in a diplomatic compound, traditionally exempted from hostilities — and because of the seniority of the apparent targets.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promised that his country would avenge the attack. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres condemned the strike, citing “the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises.”
The Israeli strike also frustrated Washington.
Three U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss security matters said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior defense officials believed Israel should have informed them ahead of time because of the strike’s implications for U.S. interests in the region, The Washington Post reported.
U.S. officials worry about a multifront war breaking out and feared the Damascus strike could lead to attacks on U.S. military personnel based in Iraq, Syria or other parts of the Middle East.
How is the U.S. involved?
U.S. military forces in the Middle East intercepted “dozens” of Iranian drones and missiles, Austin said in a statement, adding that American military forces remain “postured” to protect U.S. troops and support Israel’s defense. He called on Iran to de-escalate tensions and halt attacks on Israel.
“We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and support the defense of Israel,” the statement said.
Biden, who had directed aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to be sent to the region over the past week in anticipation of an attack, said no U.S. troops or facilities were targeted in the barrage.
“We will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people,” he said.