Iran retaliates against Israel by launching drones

Iran launched a historic attack against Israel directly from its territory, sending a wave of drones towards the country amid soaring tensions in the Middle East. The attack was in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in the death of seven Revolutionary Guards officers, including two senior commanders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that the country’s defensive systems were deployed and ready for any scenario. Israel’s military confirmed that fighter jets and navy vessels were on a defense mission in Israeli airspace.

President Joe Biden, who cut short a weekend trip to Delaware, met with his national security team at the White House to discuss the situation. The U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, stated that the attack was likely to unfold over a number of hours.

Iran’s foreign ministry warned that it would not hesitate to take further “defensive measures” to protect its interests against any military aggression. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Iran’s “large-scale attack” on Israel and called for an immediate stop to the fighting to avoid a devastating region-wide escalation.

Former President Donald Trump blamed President Biden for the attack during a campaign rally, while U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Israel of full U.S. support to defend against any attacks by Iran and its proxies. The situation remains tense as both countries brace for potential further escalations.