Iran launches 300 missiles at Israel in first ever direct attack. Source: Adam Jones via Flickr.
Iran has launched more than 300 missile and drones at Israel on Saturday in retaliation to a recent strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria on 1 April.
Tehran had been threatening to attack Israel since 1 April, when Israel launched an air raid in Damascus, killing 13 people, including two Iranian generals.
This is Iran’s first ever direct attack on Israel.
The “vast majority” of missiles launched from Iran were intercepted with help from forces from France, the UK, and the US, said the Israeli military in a statement on Sunday.
The chief spokesman for Israel’s military, Daniel Hagari, said Israel suffered light damage from the attack and was “still functioning”.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s military said the “response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran”.
Iran also warned the US to stay out of the conflict.
“There’s an element here that might provide an opening to not force an escalation here, which is the attack was largely ineffective,” said Former White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney. “It’s not as if Israel received a tremendous amount of damage.”
Israeli’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has not declared a formal decision, and will weigh his options, saying on Sunday that they would not immediately act, but remain on high alert.
Yoav Gallant, Israeli’s Defence Minister said the successful interception against the attack was an opportunity for a new “strategic alliance” against Iran.
Joe Biden has also made it clear that the US would not interfere in any offensive attack on Iran.
“We are committed to defending Israel. We would not be a part of any response they do. This is a very consistent policy,” a senior administration official said.
“Our aim is to deescalate regional tensions. We do not want a broader regional conflict. Our focus has been to contain this crisis.”
Across the mainstream media, criticism has been issued at the double standards demonstrated when the US, France and the UK blocked a UN security council statement prepared after the strike in Syria, where Israel would have been criticised for violating the sanctity of a diplomatic building.
