Editors note: This story will continue to be updated with new information.
Booms and sirens from over 200 missiles and drones could be heard in Israel April 13 when Iran launched a surprise attack as part of a mission that pushed the Middle East closer to a region-wide war, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Despite decades of hostility between the nations dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran acted in retaliation to an April 1 airstrike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals inside an Iranian consular building.
The Israeli military’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said Iran fired scores of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles — with the vast majority intercepted outside Israel’s borders. He said warplanes intercepted over 10 cruise missiles alone, also outside Israeli airspace.
Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, in a press conference said his country notified the United States before launching the strike against Israel.
“Early Sunday in a message to the White House we announced that our operation would be limited and minimalistic and aimed at legitimate defense and punishing the Israeli regime,” Amirabdollahian said.
Leaders of the G7 — the informal gathering of industrialized countries that includes the United States, United Kingdom and France — issued a statement Sunday “unequivocally condemning in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel.”
Sunday morning, the British government said it has moved “several additional” fighter jets and refueling tankers to the region, following Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly spoke to President Biden earlier April 13. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said on CNN Sunday afternoon that the last 24 hours had shown the “ironclad” alliance between the U.S. and Israel.
The White House says President Biden spoke by phone Sunday with Jordan’s King Abdullah II about the situation in the Middle East.
Biden strongly condemned the attack launched by Iran, which the White House says also “threatened Jordan and the Jordanian people.” Both leaders said they continue to monitor the situation and will remain in close touch over the coming days.
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