Iran launches retaliatory attack on Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles, ‘99% intercepted’
- Israeli military spokesman said most Iranian drones and missiles were intercepted by air defences
- Iran had vowed retaliation for what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1
Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli territory, a retaliatory strike that raised the threat of a wider regional conflict, as the US pledged “ironclad” backing for Israel.
Sirens wailed and journalists in Israel heard distant heavy thuds and bangs from what local media called aerial interceptions of explosive drones. Authorities said a 7-year-old girl was critically injured.
US President Joe Biden, who spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would convene a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven major economies on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response to what he called Iran’s brazen attack.
Six months into war between Israeli and Hamas in Gaza and amid growing risks of a greater regional war, Axios quoted a senior White House official as saying Biden also told Netanyahu the US would oppose any Israeli counter-attack against Iran.
The UN Security Council was set to meet at 4pm ET on Sunday (4am Hong Kong time Monday) after Israel requested it condemn Iran’s attack and designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation, according to a schedule released late on Saturday.
