JERUSALEM: Iran conducted a direct assault on Israeli territory late Saturday with explosive drones and missiles, marking its first such attack and escalating the risk of a broader regional conflict. The U.S. affirmed unwavering support for Israel in response.
Sirens blared as Private Media journalists in Israel heard distant explosions from what local media termed as interceptions of explosive drones. Authorities reported a 7-year-old girl critically injured.
President Joe Biden, in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced plans to convene a meeting of G7 leaders on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response to what he termed Iran’s audacious attack.
Six months into the Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza, and with mounting threats of a wider regional war, Axios cited a senior White House official stating that Biden also informed Netanyahu of U.S. opposition to any Israeli retaliation against Iran.
The UN Security Council was scheduled to convene on Sunday after Israel’s request to condemn Iran’s attack and label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization.
Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, reported that Iran launched numerous ground-to-ground missiles, most intercepted beyond Israeli borders. Hagari noted over 10 cruise missiles among them.
Hagari stated that the Iranian barrage of over 200 drones and missiles caused minor damage to a single Israeli military facility. The Israeli military later rescinded earlier shelter advisories, signaling a diminished threat.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
