LIVE Israel shoots down
300 Iranian drones and missiles with US help, says IDF
Summary
- Israel says it and its allies have intercepted the vast majority of more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran
- It says there were a small number of hits on its territory, including at an IDF base in southern Israel, while one person has been injured
- Iran’s unprecedented, retaliatory attack marks the first time it has targeted Israel directly from its own soil
- Iran’s attack is a retaliation for a strike that killed an Iranian military commander in Damascus earlier this month, that Tehran accuses Israel of carrying out
- Sirens sounded across Israel and loud explosions were heard over Jerusalem, with air defence systems shooting down objects over the city.
- President Biden tells Israel that American support for its ally is “ironclad”, adding that the US helped “take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles”
- UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps condemns the “senseless attack” and says additional RAF jets have been deployed to the region
US ‘will not participate in offensive action on Iran’, CNN reports
Analysts are speculating that this unprecedented attack – from the state of Iran into Israeli territory – will lead to retaliatory action by Israel.
However, according to CNN, citing an administration official, President Joe Biden has already told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that America will not participate in any offensive operation against Iran.
Meanwhile, an Israeli official has told the New York Times that any response by Israel would be “coordinated with its allies”.
As we’ve been reporting, Biden has said that the US helped Israel take down “nearly all” the barrage of 300 drones and missiles that were launched by Iran.
Israel says Hamas has rejected latest ceasefire deal
We’ve also had news on the talks to try to secure a hostage-prisoner swap and ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas has rejected the latest outline of a plan put forward by mediators, according to Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad.
The Israeli agency says in a statement the rejection “proves that [Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya] Sinwar does not want a humanitarian deal and the return of the hostages”.
Hamas “is continuing to exploit the tension with Iran, and is striving to unite the sectors and achieve a general escalation in the region”, the statement continues.
“Israel will continue to strive to realize the objectives of the war with Hamas with full force, and leave no stone unturned to return the 133 hostages from Gaza forthwith.”
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