Israeli skies ruffled by air defence rockets as Iran launches retaliatory strikes

Iran has launched hundreds of kamikaze drones as well as cruise missiles towards Israel with explosions heard over Jerusalem's skies among other places, in the Islamic Republic's first-ever direct attack on the world's only Jewish state as the six-month-old war in Gaza continues to push the region to a full-blown turmoil.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said more than 100 drones were launched. The US forces said they downed some Iranian drones headed for Israel while the United Kingdom said it deployed jets to intercept them.

#BREAKING | @IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari:

“#Iran has launched a direct attack from Iranian soil toward the State of #Israel. We are closely monitoring Iranian killer drones that are en-route to Israel sent by Iran.

This is a severe and dangerous escalation. Our… pic.twitter.com/BDSlgymeul — WION (@WIONews) April 13, 2024

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The President of the United States wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he met with his national security team and that Washington's commitment to protect Israel against Iran and its proxies remains "ironclad".

"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," the President of the United States wrote on X. The American leader cut short a weekend stay at his Delaware beach house and returned to the White House to monitor the situation shortly before the attack was announced.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corp confirmed that it had also launched ballistic missiles at "specific targets" in Israel as part of what it deemed "Operation True Promise".

"In response to the numerous crimes committed by the Zionist regime … the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired dozens of missiles and drones at specific targets inside the occupied territories [Israel]," state TV quoted a Guards statement as saying.

Iran's attack against Israel: Cities under attack

Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Dimona, the desert city that houses Israel's nuclear plant, all appeared to have been targeted.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, and Lebanon's Hezbollah, also said they had joined the attack against Israel.

For last two weeks, the speculations had been brewing about how Iran would respond to April 1 strike on its consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus which killed Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, and eight other officers.

While Israel did not directly claim responsibility for attacks carried out on foreign soil, Tehran blamed Israel for the strike.

Since the war in Gaza began after Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel, tensions have been brewing in the region with its intensity reaching unprecedented proportions in recent weeks.

But the Iranian leaders have previously made clear that they are not seeking a war with Israel, which could also draw in the US.

(With inputs from agencies)