On Saturday, April 13, Iran, conducting its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory from Iranian soil, launched more than 120 ballistic missiles, 170 drones, and over 30 cruise missiles at Israel. According to the Israeli military, 99% of the projectiles were shot down, with the help of U.S. forces, though it cost $1bn to activate the necessary defense systems.
Israeli minister Benny Gantz expressed intent to “‘exact the price’ from Iran when [the] timing is right.” U.S. President Joe Biden communicated “ironclad” support for Israel’s defense against Iran, while warning its leadership that the United States will not participate in a counteroffensive.
Regional sources outline reactions to and implications of the operation:
According to Al Jazeera, “the vast majority of the projectiles were intercepted outside the country’s borders with help from the US, the United Kingdom and France. Jordan also shot down some of the missiles aimed at Israel as they were flying through Jordanian airspace.” Dozens of projectiles were also launched from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
The Iranian operation reflects a response to Israel’s April 1 strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which “resulted in the killing of seven Iranian military officials, including a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) for Syria and Lebanon.” Anadolu Agency reported that Iranian spokesperson Nasser Kanaani categorized Iran’s recent attack as “in line with Iran’s inherent right to self-defense” and “within the framework of legitimate defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”
Al-Arabiya noted that Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated that Tehran had provided a 72-hour warning regarding the operation to the U.S. and neighboring countries. The source cited experts who analyze that “this would suggest Iran intended this attack to be largely symbolic and designed to restore deterrence, rather than actually inflicting damage on Israel. The telegraphing also emphasizes how Iran hopes to avoid escalation with both Israel and the US in the short-term.” However, U.S. officials denied receiving such warning.
In response to the Iranian strikes, the Israeli war cabinet met on Monday to discuss potential responses. Anonymous sources shared with the Times of Israel that the cabinet has decided to “hit back ‘clearly and forcefully’ against Iran with a response designed to send the message that Israel ‘will not allow an attack of that magnitude against it to pass without a reaction.’” However, the cabinet is cautious of actions that could spark regional war, “or to shatter the coalition that helped it defend against Iran’s attack… Israel intends to coordinate its action with the US.”
The United States “will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war,” John Kirby, the White House’s top national security spokesperson asserted. Arab News reported that “President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the US will not take part in a counter-offensive against Iran if Israel decides to retaliate for a mass drone and missile attack on Israeli territory.”
The National News quoted Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani, who communicated that if Israel attacks Iran, it “will no longer have 12 days, and the answer they receive will not be measured in days and hours, but in seconds.” Iran has “temporarily closed its nuclear complexes over ’security considerations,’” and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has exhibited “[concern] about Israel attacking Iranian nuclear compounds.”
The New Arab explained that, despite airstrikes from Iran, Israeli aggression against Gaza did not halt. While Iran attacked, “Israeli aircraft and tanks launched ‘dozens’ of strikes overnight in the centre of the strip, reporting several casualties… Strikes hit the Nuseirat refugee camp, with fighting also reported in other areas of central and northern Gaza,” and the fatality toll “rose by at least 68 deaths over 24 hours.”