The long-anticipated response from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has finally arrived, with the announcement of launching “300 drones and missiles” towards Israel.
This action was taken in response to an assault on Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1, which resulted in the death of seven military officers, including a high-ranking official.
Israel and its allies, foreseeing imminent attacks, had their military commands on standby. An Israeli TV report indicated that the country was bracing for the attacks around 11pm.
The Revolutionary Guards of Iran confirmed the attacks, stating that they had directed missiles and drones towards “specific targets”. In response to this announcement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of high alert and began “monitoring all targets”.
In light of these developments, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, called an emergency war cabinet meeting. The situation led to Israel, Lebanon, and Iraq shutting down their airspaces, while Syria and Jordan activated their air defenses, as reported by the BBC.
Prior to Iran’s drone launches, Israel had received intelligence reports. In response, Netanyahu stated that the country’s “defensive systems” were in place. He asserted, “We are prepared for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong.”
Netanyahu expressed gratitude for the support of the US, Britain, France, and several other countries. The US echoed this sentiment, with National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stating, “President Biden has been clear: our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also condemned the attacks, labeling Iran’s actions as “reckless” and pledging that the UK would “continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners,” according to a statement quoted by the BBC.
The IRGC, the most formidable branch of Iran’s armed forces, stated that the attack was “in retaliation against the Zionist regime’s (Israel) repeated crimes, including the attack on the Iranian embassy’s consulate in Damascus.”
