US, UK in support of Israel after Iran launched retaliatory attack

Iran, in response to the April 1 strike on its consulate in Syria, fired over 300 drones and missiles at Israel.

According to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari, more than 300 projectiles, including around 170 drones and over 120 ballistic missiles, were fired toward Israel in the overnight attack. Approximately 350 rockets were fired from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Daniel Hagar said.

The retaliatory attack by Iran on Saturday came after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had warned on Wednesday that Israel "must be punished and will be punished” for the April 1 attack. The attack on the Iranian consulate led to the destruction of the building and casualties, with Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), among those killed. 

It was the first time that Iran launched a direct military assault on Israel despite having decades of enmity since country’s 1979 Islamic revolution. 

The US on Sunday said that it destroyed more than 80 UAVs and at least six ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel.

This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen prior to their launch, the US Central Command said.

According to the Israeli military, 99 per cent of the barrage was successfully intercepted, and no Israeli casualties were reported, after Iran had given prior indications of the attack. 

Commenting on Israel’s response to the attack, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said, “thwarted this attack in a way that is unparalleled” but added “we must be prepared for every scenario.” 

In his first comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “we have intercepted, we have contained. Together we shall win.”

However, Israel’s allies in the West urged the country to work to de-escalate the crisis, rather than respond in a way which could lead to further escalation in the region.

Meanwhile, Iran has said its objective was achieved which was to temporarily halt the progression towards a larger conflict. 

US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and made clear that the US would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, reported CNN.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also condemned Iran’s attack against Israel terming it as “reckless” and pledged that the UK would stand up for security in the region.

Several additional Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets had been moved to the region to help intercept the drone attacks, said the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) late on Saturday.

The aircraft and air-fuelling tankers are being deployed as part of the UK's ongoing Operation Shader against the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group in the region.

“Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed,” Sunak added.