April 14, Jerusalem - Leading Iranian commanders cautioned Israel on Sunday that if it retaliates against drone and missile strikes that occurred overnight, it will be met with a more potent onslaught. They also stated that Washington has been instructed not to support any military action from its partner.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the armed forces, said state television that "our response will be much larger than tonight's military action if Israel retaliates against Iran." Tehran also forewarned Washington that any support for Israeli reprisal would lead to the targeting of U.S. sites.
Tehran would retaliate against any Israeli attack on its interests, officials, or civilians, Hossein Salami, the commander of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also issued a warning.
Following Iran's unprecedented direct attack on Israeli territory, Israel claimed minor damage and reopened its airspace, while the US announced on Sunday that it will talk with key powers about a diplomatic response.
In a dramatic intensification of the Middle East conflict, the Israeli military claimed to have shot down nearly all of Iran's more than 300 drones and missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged his nation will prevail.
The potential of a wider regional confrontation was elevated by Tehran's attacks late on Saturday, which were initiated in response to an alleged Israeli air raid on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 that resulted in the deaths of officers of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Netanyahu wrote on X, "We intercepted, we repelled, together we shall win."
More than 99% of the Iranian drones and missiles were shot down, according to the Israeli military, which was also considering its options.
An unidentified Israeli official was quoted by Israel's Channel 12 TV as stating that there will be a "significant response" to the attack.
Tensions in the region have escalated due to the war in Gaza, which Israel invaded on October 7 in response to an offensive by Hamas, which is backed by Iran. The conflict has stretched to fronts with Lebanon and Syria and drawn artillery fire from as far away as Yemen and Iraq toward Israeli targets.
"PUSH TOWARD ESCALATION" Hezbollah, a Shi'ite organization based in Lebanon and Iran's most potent regional ally, has been engaging in gunfire with Israel since the start of the Gaza War. The group announced early on Sunday that it had fired rockets at an Israeli base.
According to a statement from British marine security business Ambrey, Yemen's Houthi militia, which is affiliated with Iran and has assaulted commercial lanes in and around the Red Sea to demonstrate support for Hamas, has also apparently fired drones against Israel.
These confrontations now pose a threat of turning into an open confrontation between Israel and the United States, Israel's principal backer, and Iran and its regional allies. Egypt, a regional power, called for "utmost restraint".
First of Three Items On April 14, 2024, in Jerusalem, objects can be seen in the sky above the city after Iran launched drones and missiles against Israel. /Ronen Zvulun
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson for Israel, described Iran's activities as "very grave" and said they "push the region toward escalation" during a televised briefing.
Many of Iran's ground-to-ground missiles, including over ten cruise missiles, were intercepted outside of Israeli boundaries, according to Hagari.
He said that one Israeli military facility sustained minor damage as a result of the Iranian volley.
In an apparent indication that the threat was over, the Israeli military updated an earlier advisory to state that it was not recommending civilians to get ready to take cover.
UN Security Council will convene.
Iran had sworn revenge for what it claimed was an Israeli attack on the grounds of its embassy, killing seven Revolutionary Guard members, two of whom were senior commanders. Tehran said that "Israeli crimes" were the reason for its strike. Israel has not acknowledged or refuted being behind the attack on the consulate.
"The Iranian mission to the United Nations warned the U.S. to stay away, saying that Iran's response would be considerably more severe should the Israeli regime make another mistake." But it also stated that Iran "deemed the matter concluded" at this point.
Following a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he will call a summit of the main economies of the Group of Seven on Sunday to arrange a diplomatic response to what he described as Iran's blatant attack.
Although the United States does not seek confrontation with Iran, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the country will not hesitate to take action to defend Israel and its forces.
Israel asked that the U.N. Security Council denounce Iran's strike and declare the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group. As a result, the council was scheduled to convene on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET (2000 GMT).
According to a source cited by Iran's Fars news agency, Tehran is keeping a careful eye on Jordan, which may be the next target if any actions are taken in favor of Israel.
On Saturday night, Israel and Lebanon announced the closure of their airspace. According to the airports authority, Israel reopened its airspace on Sunday at 04:30 GMT. According to two regional security sources, Jordan, which is sandwiched between Iran and Israel, has prepared its air defenses to stop any drone or missile that intrudes on its territory.
Jordan announced on Sunday that it had stopped aircraft that had flown into its territory late on Saturday.
Many Jordanian cities reported hearing intense airborne activity from their residents.
Syria, an ally of Iran, announced, according to army sources there, that it was placing its major sites and the area surrounding the capital on high alert for air threats.
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