Iran launches attack on Israel

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Iran has sent over 100 combat drones in the direction of Israel as part of an act of revenge following a potential attack on a target situated in Damascus that resulted in the deaths of some highly-ranked Iranian military leaders. This particular incident is bringing the Middle East one step nearer to a major armed conflict.

According to Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for Israel's military, it would take many hours for the drones to arrive in the country. Additionally, he stated that the Israeli military is fully equipped and ready to handle any potential situations that they have prepared for beforehand, both in terms of attack and defense.

During a broadcasted media briefing, Hagari stated that we are collaborating closely with the United States alongside our associates in the area to carry out operations against these missile launches and stop them. Furthermore, we are grateful for the additional protection provided by the military forces of the US.

According to a statement made by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, they have launched "dozens" of missiles and drones at Israel. The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, posted a message on the social media platform X, stating that the "wicked regime" would face consequences.

A high-ranking Israeli military officer mentioned that it is premature to determine the specific target of Iran's attack and that there is a possibility that additional assaults will occur in the future.

The individuals further stated that Israel was closely monitoring the situation to see if other groups in the region with Iranian support might participate, but they chose not to reveal any additional information.

The attack Israel carried out on the consulate in Damascus on April 1st was a major increase in the fighting that has taken over the Middle East since the conflict between Hamas and Israel began in October.

Over the last half-year, Israeli armed forces have engaged in frequent combat with the Hizbollah extremist group in Lebanon, which receives support from Iran. Meanwhile, other groups allied with Iran in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have launched multiple attacks on Israel using drones and missiles.

Up until this point, Iran and Israel have managed to avoid confronting each other. Even though they have a lengthy past of hostility towards each other, they have never engaged in a direct attack by launching missiles from their respective territories. The only time this occurred was in 2018 when Iranian military personnel stationed in Syria carried out a direct attack on Israel.

However, the leadership of Iran pledged to retaliate after the attack on the consulate located in Damascus. Officials from Iran stated that this embassy was their "sovereign territory" and as a result, a senior Iranian general and six military officers lost their lives.

Israel has been preparing for a retaliation in the past few days. The Israeli military has set restrictions on public gatherings and closed schools for two days. Hagari stated that numerous Israeli fighter jets were ready for the Iranian attack and that specific areas in Israel would have a GPS disruption.

Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq have also declared the closure of their airspace, joining other neighboring nations in the region.

On Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement which was recorded before he met with his war cabinet. He expressed his gratitude towards the United States for supporting Israel, as well as the UK, France, and other countries.

The premier, who has been in office for a long time, also made a threat directly to Iran. He set out a straightforward rule that whoever causes harm to his country, will receive an equivalent punishment. He assured the public that they will safeguard themselves against any potential danger, with calmness and resolve.

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, ended his weekend in Delaware prematurely and rushed back to Washington on Saturday for urgent discussions with his national security advisors.

The US National Safety Council stated that the Head of State is receiving constant information about what is happening, and that the assault will probably take place slowly over some hours.

The spokesperson for the NSC affirmed that President Biden has made his stance on Israel very clear. He assures that the United States is fully committed to ensuring Israel's safety and security and will assist them in defending against any potentially harmful actions coming from Iran.

More information was gathered for this blog post with the help of Felicia Schwartz, who reported from Washington, D.C.