Iran launched an unprecedented barrage of over 300 drones and missiles at Israel over the weekend. Israel and allies shot down nearly all of the weapons. Israel called for sanctions on Iran.
Iran launched a massive barrage of over 300 drones and missiles at Israel over the weekend — in what is believed to be Iran’s first direct attack on its regional foe from Iranian soil.
Nearly all of the weapons were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States. However, a few of the Iranian ballistic missiles made it through the defenses, severely injuring a 7-year-old girl and slightly damaging a military base in southern Israel, according to Israeli officials.
Iranian officials said the attack was in response to an airstrike from earlier this month that hit Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria. Seven Iranian military officials, including two generals, were killed.
Israel neither confirmed nor denied being behind the Syria strike, though Iran and the Pentagon said Israel was responsible.
On Sunday, a senior Iranian military official said Iran’s « operation » against Israel had ended and there would be no more attacks coming, according to Iranian state media.
But tensions continue to run high in the Middle East. Now, the focus is on how Israel and other countries will respond to Iran’s escalation. An Israeli military spokesperson said on Sunday that leaders had « approved operational plans for both offensive and defensive action, » without going into further detail.
Here’s what to know:Nearly all aerial attacks were intercepted, Israel says, in large part thanks to Israel’s advanced air defense systems
In the days leading up to the attack, the U.S. and Israel closely coordinated their air defense preparations. Still, a U.S. official described the Iranian barrage as being at the « high end » of what the U.S. and Israel expected.
About 99% of the aerial attacks launched by Iran and its proxies were intercepted outside Israeli airspace, according to the Israeli military. The U.S., France, Jordan and U.K. forces helped take down the Iranian weapons.
Israel’s most advanced air defense system, the Arrow 3, provided the main protection against Iran’s ballistic missiles.
