Iran has launched drone attacks against Israel after an Israeli strike killed two Iranian generals earlier this month.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) told Newsweek on Saturday that Iran launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from within its territory toward the country.
The Context:
The conflict between Israel and Iran is the tensest it’s been since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war that started after Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched a surprise attack killing 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel subsequently launched an operation to target Hamas in Gaza, killing over 30,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
On April 1, an Israeli airstrike destroyed Iran’s consulate in Syria, killing 12 people, including two senior Iranian generals in the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force.
Iran vowed to retaliate, with the commander of the Revolutionary Guard warning last week that “our brave men will punish the Zionist regime.”
What We Know:
“The IDF is on high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation,” the Israeli military told Newsweek in a statement on Saturday. “The IDF Aerial Defense Array is on high alert, along with IAF fighter jets and Israeli Navy vessels that are on a defense mission in Israeli airspace. The IDF is monitoring all targets. We ask the public to adhere to and follow the instructions of the Home Front Command and the official IDF announcements regarding the matter.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Pentagon told Newsweek on Saturday: “We are aware of reports. We do not have anything to provide at this time.”
Yaari Cohen from Israel’s foreign ministry shared a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.
“For the past number of weeks Israel has been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack from Iran, our air defenses are deployed, we are ready for any scenario, both in attack and in defense,” Netanyahu said. “The State of Israel is strong, the IDF Is strong, the Israeli public is strong.”
This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information.
Update 4/13/24, 4:35 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and comment from the Pentagon.
A woman walks by an Israeli flag amid fears of Iran attack after it blamed Israel for a strike on its consulate in Syria on April 12, 2024, in Or Akiva, Israel. A woman walks by an Israeli flag amid fears of Iran attack after it blamed Israel for a strike on its consulate in Syria on April 12, 2024, in Or Akiva, Israel. Amir Levy/Getty Images
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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