Iran Attacks Israel

Motzei Shabbos Tazria 5784

וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלָנוּ שֶׁלֹּא אֶחָד בִּלְבַד עָמַד עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ אֵלָא שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּילֵנוּ מִיָּדָ

- Iran warns US not to respond, says next attack on Israel will be more severe on. Statement Iran said:“Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus,” it wrote, as it referred to the April 1 strike that killed seven of its military officials.“The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe”.

- Airspace over Israel, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon has now Reopened to Commercial Air Traffic.

-IDF spokesman Hagari: Zero of the close to 200 drones and zero of the 30 cruise missiles got through to Israeli territory at all. 99% of the aerial threats were shot down, which he said was a strategic achievement.

- Ben Gurion airport open again to limited flights

- The target of the Iranian attack was the Nevatim air base in the Negev it was hit with ballistic Missiles resulting in damage to equipment and infrastructure. The IDF said damage was light and minimal but the base is operating as usual 

-  10 out of 100 surface-to-surface missiles entered Israel. Not even one drone or cruise missile penetrated Israeli territory, the IDF says.

- Barak Ravid reports that US President Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in their phone call tonight that the US opposes an Israeli strike on Iran. “You've achieved a victory today, be satisfied with that victory,” Biden said to Netanyahu.

- US spent a billion dollars on intercepting Iranian missiles tonight 

- Israel Official: Israel will coordinate its response to Tehran's attacks with its allies.

- Biden says he will meet with G7 leaders to coordinate a unified diplomatic response to the Iranian attack

- Biden:We helped Israel intercept almost all the missiles and drones launched from Iran, Syria, Iraq and Yemen”

-Two Senior Israeli Defense Officials have stated that tonight’s “Unprecedented Iranian Attack” against Israel is believed to have consisted of 185 One-Way “Suicide” Drones, 110 Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles, and 36 Land-Attack Cruise Missiles with a Majority being launched from Iran, though a few were launched by the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen and Iranian-Backed Proxies in Iraq.

- El Al has canceled several Sunday flights and announced a waiver, allowing flights booked for travel through 4/20 to be changed to any other flight through 4/20 with no fare difference. Flights that are canceled can be refunded, while other flights can be converted into a voucher. United also canceled tomorrow’s flight from Tel Aviv to Newark and will likely cancel additional flights. The airline announced a waiver for Israel flights booked through 5/1 to be changed to any other flight through 5/1 with no fare difference. You can also request a full refund for flights booked through 5/1.(Dan's Deals)

- Israel security cabinet approved significant response to Iran's attack on its territory. US officials want Israel to think through any response and not make haste decisions.

- President Biden: I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.

- Ben Gurion airport closed to all outgoing and incoming flights. Those traveling for Pesach will have to wait for an update on when it will reopen

- Channel 12: Israel got lots of help tonight from the US, Britain, Jordan, France, Saudi Arabia & possibly other partners.  Their pilots & other forces engaged in early detection & interception to defend Israel from the Iranian assault

- In the past hour, approximately 35-40 launches from southern Lebanon towards the Golan Heights and Upper Galilee, several successful interceptions and falls in open areas, no casualties reported.

- Chasidishe Admorim in EY direct the chadorim not to open schools tomorrow. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsh and Rav Dov Landau issued similar instructions for elementary schools and an updated notice will follow. Others will have school as scheduled.

- Israel says there will be a significant response 

- IDF lifts order for Israelis to stay near safe rooms, indicating Iran attack over for now

- IDF says Iran fired 200 missiles and drones; most intercepted; minor damage at IDF base

- Body of Israeli teen found in West Bank; IDF says he was murdered in terror attack 

Benjamin Achimeir, 14, went missing while shepherding he was murderer Friday morning by Arab terrorists.

Photo: interception over Yerushalayim 

Jpost:

Sirens blared across Israel on Saturday night as hundreds of drones and missiles launched from Iran reached Israel. Drones and missiles were also reportedly launched from Yemen and other countries around the region.

A seven-year-old girl from a Bedouin village near Arad was seriously wounded by the Iranian attack, according to Magen David Adom. Minor damage was caused to infrastructure at an IDF base in southern Israel during the attack as well, according to IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari.

 

At 3:00 a.m., IDF Chief Spokesman Daniel Hagari said that Iran had launched a large-scale massive swarm of over 200 killer drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles toward Israel. "Together [with our partners], we are operating at this very moment. So far, we have intercepted a vast majority of missiles, attack drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles outside of Israel's border," he said.

Hagari stressed that the Iranian attack was not over yet. Almost all interceptions have been by aircraft, David's Sling, or the Arrow missile systems. The Iron Dome, which defends well against Hamas and Hezbollah's simple rockets, is less relevant for drones and fancier long-range missiles.

Iran confirmed as well that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had launched a missile and drone attack against Israel. Despite the injury of civilians, Iran's Foreign Ministry said that Iran had conducted the attack against Israeli military bases. The ministry claimed that it conducted the strikes in "self-defense."

 

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Ofir Gendelman, the prime minister's spokesperson to Arabic media, warned that Israel's response to the Iranian attack will be "firm and clear" in statements to Al-Arabiya on Saturday night.

About 150 missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israel as of 3:00 a.m., according to ABC news.

Israel, the US, the UK, and Jordan worked to intercept the drones and missiles over Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel, according to foreign reports.

Israeli sources told ABC News that cruise missiles had been launched from Iraq towards Israel. Al-Arabiya reported that the US was intercepting drones over Iraq and Syria. Hezbollah said that they had fired dozens of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon towards the Golan Heights on Saturday night, setting off sirens in Snir.

The IDF confirmed that more than 100 drones have been launched by Iran, while the defense sources had earlier told The Jerusalem Post that hundreds had been fired.

IDF sources would neither confirm nor deny reports of shooting down drones in Syrian airspace based on operational considerations. The IDF said that it was ready to shoot drones down, though air defense is not hermetic. Israeli aircraft had reportedly already begun shooting down projectiles as of 12:00 a.m.

The IDF's shoot-down capabilities include aircraft, Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow missile system. In addition, the military can use GPS scrambling to disable certain kinds of attacking drones.

The Islamic Republic's attack comes after it accused Israel of killing top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi on April 1, who had directed its proxy attacks on Israel in Lebanon and Syria, including being a top coordinator with Hezbollah.

The IDF declined to publicly commit to a preemptive strike on Iran now that the drones have been launched.

Iran's Mission to the UN stated at 1:06 a.m. that the attack on Israel "can be deemed concluded."

"However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!" added the Iranian mission.

Security cabinet gives Netanyahu, Gallant, Gantz authority to determine response

The Security Cabinet gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and minister-without-portfolio Benny Gantz the authority to make decisions concerning further action against Iran early Sunday morning.

Israeli airspace closes as attack begins, Home Front Command prepared

The Israel Airports Authority announced that Israeli airspace would close starting at 12:30 a.m. local time.

The commander of the IDF's Home Front Command, Rafi Milo, called on Israelis to "continue to be cautious and listen to directives; they can change depending on the assessment of the situation."

"To date, your conduct and adherence to the instructions has been exceptional; keep it up - it saves lives," added Milo. "The Home Front Command is deployed and prepared throughout the country."

"We have been at war on several fronts for over six months. Throughout the war we faced and rubbed shoulders with a large number of challenges in a very wide variety of threats, we learned and improved - we arrive prepared and strong both in defense and attack."

The Health Ministry ordered hospitals to be on alert and increase the staff at medical institutions early Sunday morning. Vacations for medical staff were canceled. 

Jordan takes part in intercepting Iranian attack

Shortly after the Iranian strike began, Iraqi officials announced that Iraqi airspace was being closed. Lebanon and Jordan also decided to close their airspace on Saturday night.

A number of drones were seen flying from the direction of Iran over Iraq's Sulaymaniya province, three security sources told Reuters on Saturday. Additional waves of drones and missiles were spotted over other areas in Iraq and Jordan later in the night.

"Dozens of drones were spotted flying from Iran in the direction of Israel over Iraqi airspace," two Iraqi security sources also told Reuters.

Jordanian jets shot down dozens of Iranian drones, two regional security sources told Reuters.

Egypt's air defense is on alert, Egyptian military and security sources said late on Saturday, amid fears of an Iranian drone attack aimed towards Israel.

Egypt's military General Command has formed a team to monitor the situation and make any necessary decisions regarding the country's airspace, the sources said.

British Royal Air Force jets in the Middle East "will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required" after Iran targeted Israel with drones and missiles, the country's Ministry of Defence said late Saturday.

"In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks," the statement added.

Iraqi security sources told Arabic media that several Iranian missiles fell near Yusufiya, south of Baghdad on Saturday night.

An Iranian drone also fell in Shiraz in south-central Iran, according to Iran International.

Iranian attack sparks panic in Iran, Lebanon

Long lines were reported at gas stations in Iran and Lebanon as residents rushed to prepare for an expected escalation in the region in light of Iran's attack against Israel.

Netanyahu: Whoever harms us, we will harm them

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video message before the attack said that "in recent years, and even more so in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack from Iran.

He warned Tehran that "whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will protect ourselves from any threat and we will do so with steadfastness and determination."

"Together we will overcome all our enemies," he said as he urged Israelis to listen to the Home Front Command directives and thanked Israel's allies such as the US, France and Great Britain for standing with the Jewish state..

"Our defense systems are deployed. We are prepared for any scenario, both in defense and attack," Netanyahu said, as he stressed that the IDF, the state and the public were strong.

Biden: our support for Israel’s security is ironclad

The White House said that "US President Joe Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House."

"President Biden has been clear: our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran," stressed the White House.

The UN Security Council was reportedly set to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon in light of the attack.