Israel claimed on Sunday to have destroyed 99% of the drones and ballistic and cruise missiles launched early this morning by Iran in a massive and unprecedented strike that Tehran described as a retaliatory response to the Israeli military’s recent bombing of its embassy in Damascus, in a new twist that further escalates tensions in the Middle East and threatens to widen the conflict over the war in Gaza.
An Israeli army spokesman said more than 300 launches were detected over Israeli airspace, of which “99% were intercepted”, which he considered “a very important strategic success”, adding that Iran used at least 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles in the attack; some of the latter were able to breach Israeli defences, causing damage to an air base although Israeli officials described them as minor. US President Joe Biden confirmed that his forces helped Israel intercept “almost all” of the drones and missiles.
The Iranian attack comes less than two weeks after an alleged Israeli bombing – in line with its usual policy in such cases, Israel has never confirmed or denied it – of an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus killed two Iranian generals, and represents the first time Iran has launched a direct military strike against Israel. Numerous countries as well as the United Nations condemned the attack, while some nations such as France warned that Iran “risks provoking a military escalation” in the region.
In Iran, where celebrations raged throughout the night over the attack, Iran’s Chief of Staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, warned Israel that any response to the attack would be met with a far greater retaliation, and warned Washington that if it supports such an Israeli military action Iran would attack US bases in the region. Meanwhile in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed confidence after it was confirmed that 99% of the drones and missiles launched in the Iranian attack had been destroyed: “We intercepted, we repelled, and together we shall win,” he wrote on social media.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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