Israel’s war on Gaza updates: Iran sends drones, missiles towards Israel
Iran says it is retaliating for Israel’s bombing of its consulate in Syria earlier this month.
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- Iran’s UN mission says its attack, in response to an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, is “concluded”, warns Israel against retaliation.
- The Israeli army says Iran has launched several drones against Israeli territory, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it also launched missiles against Israel.
- Gaza’s media office says 19 were killed and more than 200 wounded in six major Israeli army attacks in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza over the last 24 hours.
- Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank as a missing teenage settler is found dead.
- At least 33,686 Palestinians have been killed and 76,309 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive.
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A look at what happened today
We will be closing this live page soon. Here’s a quick recap from today:
- Air raid sirens are sounding across Israel as Israel’s air defence system actively intercepts incoming Iranian attacks in the skies above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
- Iran’s mission to the UN says its drone and missile attack on Israel was a response to Israel’s April 1 attack on its embassy in Damascus, Syria and that the “matter can be deemed concluded”.
- Netanyahu has convened Israel’s war cabinet with military spokesperson Daniel Hagari describing the attack as “a severe and dangerous escalation”.
- US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson says President Biden is being “regularly updated” and that Iran’s “attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours”.
- The drone attacks were reported on Saturday night shortly after Hamas said it had handed its response for a ceasefire proposal in Gaza to mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
US commitment to Israel’s security remains ‘ironclad’: Biden
US President Joe Biden has said in a post on X that he has met with his national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks on Israel.
I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. pic.twitter.com/kbywnsvmAx
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 13, 2024
Jordanian jets shoot down dozens of Iranian drones flying towards Israel: Report
Reuters, citing two “regional security sources”, reports that Jordanian jets have downed dozens of Iranian drones flying across northern and central Jordan heading to Israel.
The sources said the drones were brought down in the air on the Jordanian side of the Jordan Valley and were heading in the direction of Jerusalem.
Others were intercepted close to the Iraqi-Syrian border. They gave no further details.
‘America supports Israel’: Trump
The former US president has hit out at Biden over the Iranian attack on Israel.
“ISRAEL IS UNDER ATTACK! This should never have been allowed to happen – This would NEVER have happened if I were President!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“AMERICA SUPPORTS ISRAEL!”
Israel’s air defence system has not faced attack of this magnitude before
We’ve been looking out from the balcony here across the Jerusalem skyline. And we’ve seen a succession of air defence interceptors going up from various points around the city to meet targets in the sky.
And now the police seem to be going around on the streets in their cars with an announcement going out which is telling people to go to their nearest air raid shelters as quickly as they can.
The military has been telling people that the air defence systems that Israel has – that’s the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow 2 and 3 – are very capable systems designed to deal with multiple types of threats.
It’s a layered air defence system to deal with rockets, to deal with ballistic and cruise missiles and to deal with drones as well.
And that is what we’re likely to be seeing over the next few minutes and hours as these different waves of projectiles come in.
The big test of course, for this layered air defence system is, [can it] cope with an assault of this magnitude, because this is not something that Israel has faced before, on this scale.
Ballistic missile barrage concluded: Report
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing the Israeli military, reports that the ballistic missile barrage launched from Iran has now concluded and that drones and cruise missiles are now expected.
RAF jets deployed to intercept any airborne attacks in Middle East: UK MoD
The Ministry of Defence says British Royal Air Force jets in the Middle East “will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required” after Iran targeted Israel with drones and missiles.
“In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks,” it said in a statement.
Top US Democrat condemns ‘unprecedented’ attack on Israel
Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader in the US House of Representatives, has voiced support for Israel.
“Iran, a sworn enemy of the United States, has launched an unprecedented attack against our democratic ally, the State of Israel,” Jeffries said in a statement.
“America’s commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad and unbreakable. Iran will not succeed. We stand with the people of Israel during this moment of significant challenge.”
Statement in connection with Iran’s unprecedented attack against the State of Israel. pic.twitter.com/70KpoudsIj
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) April 13, 2024
Iran warns Jordan over any moves to support Israel: Report
Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars, quoting a military source, reports that Iran is watching Jordan for any moves in support of Israel during Tehran’s retaliatory attacks, warning the country may become the “next target”.
“A military-informed source said [we] are closely monitoring Jordan’s movements during the punitive attacks … and if they participate in any possible action [to back Israel], they will be the next target,” Fars stated.
Iran ‘trying to regain deterrence’: Analyst
Qatar University’s Hassan Barari has told Al Jazeera that Iran’s attack on Israel “is an escalation” but is also “calculated” and “measured”.
Barari said Iran’s mission to the UN’s statement that the attack “concludes” the matter of Israel’s attack on Iran’s Damascus Embassy shows Iran “doesn’t want any further retaliation”.
“What the Iranians are trying to do is to come up with a measured, calculated attack in order to regain deterrence and not to be seen as weak in front of their own proxies,” Barari said.
On how Iran’s attack may affect Israel’s war on Gaza, Barari said that “it all depends on how the Israelis read the situation”.
“I know some right-wing politicians in the government will see this as an opportunity because the world’s attention has shifted onto Iran-Israel and then they can do something probably horrendous in Gaza.”
Hezbollah launches ‘dozens’ of rockets at Golan Heights
The Iran-aligned Lebanese group says on its Telegram channel that it targeted the air and missile defence headquarters of the Israeli army in the “Keila barracks” in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights with dozens of Katyusha rockets.
The Israeli military has been carrying out attacks in southeast Lebanon as well in recent hours and there is escalation on the Israel-Lebanon border.
More than 100 drones intercepted outside Israeli territory: Report
Israeli army radio reports that more than 100 drones were intercepted outside Israeli territory with assistance from the US and UK.
Reuters reported separately that the US military shot down Iranian drone aircraft headed towards Israel, quoting three US officials, without disclosing how many drones were shot down or the precise locations.
Iran strikes on Israel an ‘unprecedented escalation’: Borell
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, has condemned Iran’s strikes on Israel as an “unprecedented escalation”.
“The EU strongly condemns the unacceptable Iranian attack against Israel,” he wrote on the platform X.
“This is an unprecedented escalation and a grave threat to regional security.”
Borrell and the EU also condemned Israel’s April 1 attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.
The EU strongly condemns the unacceptable Iranian attack against Israel.
This is an unprecedented escalation and a grave threat to regional security.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) April 13, 2024
Sirens and air defence interceptions in Tel Aviv
Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut is reporting many “active interceptions” of incoming attacks over the skies of Tel Aviv and Al Jazeera’s cameras have captured several flashes in the night sky above the city.
She also reports that air raid sirens are sounding across the country, including in Tel Aviv.
Israeli military instructs residents of high-risk areas to stay close to bomb shelters
The military issued a warning that residents of the occupied Golan Heights, Nevatim, Dimona and Eilat stay “near protective spaces until further notice”.
Nevatim is the site of an Israeli airbase. Israel has a nuclear reactor on the outskirts of Dimona. Eilat is Israel’s southern Red Sea port, which has come under repeated attack by Yemen’s Houthis throughout the war in Gaza.
‘UK calls on Iranian regime to stop this serious escalation’
The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called Iran’s attack on Israel, in which it launched dozens of drones and missiles, “reckless” in a post on X.
Iran's reckless attacks on Israel will only further inflame tensions in the Middle East.
The UK calls on the Iranian regime to stop this serious escalation, which is in no one’s interest.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) April 13, 2024
Iran says its attack on Israel ‘concludes’ matter of Israeli attack on its embassy
Iran’s mission to the UN says on X that its drone and missile attack on Israel was conducted “on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense” and in response to Israel’s April 1 attack on its embassy in Damascus, Syria.
With the attack, “The matter can be deemed concluded,” says Iran.
“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY,” it added.
Conducted on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense, Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus. The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli…
— Permanent Mission of I.R.Iran to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) April 13, 2024
Houthis launch drones at Israel in coordination with Iran: Security agency
We can now report that Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched multiple drones at Israel in coordination with Iran, according to the security firm Ambrey.
The company added that the projectiles were likely timed to reach Israel simultaneously.
“Unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs] were reportedly launched by the Houthis toward Israel. The UAVs were launched in coordination with Iran,” Ambrey stated.
“Israeli ports are assessed to be potential targets,” it added and warned of “collateral damage” to shipping.
Egyptian general air defence on alert: Report
Reuters reports Egypt’s air defence is on alert amid fears of an Iranian drone attack aimed at Israel.
Egypt’s military General Command has formed a team to monitor the situation and make any necessary decisions regarding the country’s airspace, Egyptian military and security sources told the news agency.
Tehran fires ballistic missiles at targets inside Israel: Report
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, quoting an informed source, reports that a batch of ballistic missiles was launched towards targets in Israel.
Egypt calls for exercise of the ‘utmost restraint’: Statement
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has issued a statement in which it called for the exercise of “utmost restraint” to spare the region and its people from further factors of instability and tension, after Iran launched a drone and missile attack against Israel.
Iran warns countries against allowing Israeli attacks via airspace, territory: Report
Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reports that the country’s Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani has issued a warning that Tehran will firmly respond to any country that “opens its airspace or territory for attacks on Iran by Israel”.
Iran has launched cruise missiles at Israel: Israeli media
Israel’s Channel 12 reports that cruise missiles have now been launched and that they have a shorter flight time than drones.
The channel also states that a third wave of Iranian drones has been launched towards Israel.
Sunak condemns Iran’s attack against Israel
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned Iran’s attack on Israel as “reckless”, adding that the UK would “continue to stand up for Israel’s security”.
“Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed,” Sunak said in a statement.