Developing Story: US, Israeli Defence Systems Intercept Iranian Missiles, Drones

Iran launched missiles and drones from its territory toward Israel late Saturday in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier this month, Washington Post  quoted Israeli military and Iranian state media.  

Washington Post, quoting United State officials also reported that  the United States, attempting to walk a line of helping its ally without getting pulled deeper into a regional war, targeted some of the Iranian drones.

Iranian attacks on Israel were “four-pronged,” according to a report carried by the Iranian state-run Tasnim News Agency. The missile and drone attacks were launched at Israel from positions in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, according to the agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran supports the powerful armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon, smaller armed groups in Iraq and the Houthis, a rebel group in Yemen.

Reuters, citing two “regional security sources”, reports that Jordanian jets have downed dozens of Iranian drones flying across northern and central Jordan heading to Israel. The report said sources disclosed that the drones were brought down in the air on the Jordanian side of the Jordan Valley and were heading in the direction of Jerusalem. Others were intercepted close to the Iraqi-Syrian border. They gave no further details.

According to CNN, Israeli air defences are intercepting some Iranian strikes. There are also reports of explosions and apparent intercepts across Israel, including Tel Aviv, and the West Bank. Quoting two US officials, CNN also reported that US air defence systems in the Middle East intercepted some Iranian drones.

US President Joe Biden after a meeting with his national security team, said United States’ commitment to Israel’s security “against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned Iran’s large-scale attack launched on Israel.

The UN chief called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, expressing deep alarm over the potential for a devastating region-wide escalation.

“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,” Guterres said. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”