The Israeli War Council met on Sunday to assess the situation following Iran’s attack on the country, with military leaders and security agencies in attendance to deliberate on a response to Iran. The Israeli military announced it had thwarted the attack, successfully intercepting “99 percent” of the drones and missiles launched by Iran.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated, “We will make Iran pay the price in the manner and timing that suits us.” According to the Israeli news site Walla, the Israeli military is considering targeting Iranian ships as one of the response options.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari reported on Sunday that the majority of the missiles were intercepted outside Israeli territory by Israeli air defense systems. He noted that “some of the projectiles fell within Israeli territory, hitting an Israeli military base in southern Israel, causing minor damage to the infrastructure.”
In contrast, Iranian Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri claimed that last night’s Iranian attack on Israel resulted in the destruction of two significant military sites and warned Tel Aviv against retaliating. Israeli media reported that the cost of intercepting the Iranian attack is nearing one billion dollars.
On April 14, 2024, Iran launched an aggressive aerial attack on Israel, involving more than 300 missiles and drones. This attack is considered the first of its kind in terms of direct confrontation between Iran and Israel. In response, Israel’s defense systems managed to intercept 99% of these projectiles, effectively neutralizing the threat before significant damage could occur.
The Israeli military highlighted that their air defenses successfully blocked the Iranian strikes, confirming the minimal impact on Israeli infrastructure and the efficacy of their missile defense systems, such as the Arrow system. Despite the success in air defense, the psychological impact on the Israeli populace was noted as significant, with many relying on the robustness of their nation’s defense capabilities during the attack.
Iran stated that the attack was in retaliation for an earlier Israeli strike on April 1, 2024, that resulted in the deaths of several Iranian military commanders in Damascus. This escalation has led to a significant international response, with global leaders condemning the attack and urging restraint from both sides to avoid further escalation.
The situation remains tense, with potential for further military actions depending on the political and military decisions made by both countries. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, concerned about the possible expansion of conflict into a broader regional confrontation.
