ISRAEL, Jerusalem, April 14, 2024 (GPA). Iran attacks Israel with more than 200 drones. Military posts have been targeted. The attack was confirmed on Iranian state television. Israel, for its part, was already on high alert following Iran’s threat to avenge the killing of seven Revolutionary Guard commanders in an explosion at the Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier this month.
Coinciding with the attack by its Iranian allies, the Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah fired “dozens” of rockets at a major military base in Kela in northern Israel. The Lebanese group claimed responsibility for nine attacks on Israeli territory, including a particularly large drone attack on platforms of its Iron Dome air defence system.
The Lebanese group is a key ally of Tehran and is part of the so-called Axis of Resistance, a loose Iranian-led anti-Israeli alliance that also includes Houthi rebels in Yemen, Syria, Palestinian factions and a number of Iraqi militias.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant reported that they have increased their defence capabilities “by land, air and sea”, in coordination with partners such as the United States. In addition, they have established a series of guidelines to be applied as of Monday, such as the suspension of all educational activities and the limitation of rallies throughout the country to 1,000 people.
The war cabinet of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which has held an emergency meeting, is planning a “significant response” that could aggravate the situation. The Persian country, for its part, has invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter to justify its attack, which it considers to be carried out “in self-defence” and which it now considers concluded.
The attack represents a worrying escalation of tension, with a new front for Israel, following the outbreak of war in Gaza, which has set off alarm bells in the international community. UN Secretary General António Guterres has declared himself “deeply alarmed by the real risk of a devastating escalation in the region” and has called for maximum restraint to avoid another episode of war in the Middle East.
The European Union, Canada and Egypt are also calling for a de-escalation of tensions.
For its part, the United States, Israel’s main ally, has assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the country’s support in the face of the Iranian offensive and has assured that this Sunday it will convene its G7 counterparts to coordinate a common diplomatic response.
Iranian retaliation for Israel’s multiple crimes has also put countries in the region on alert. Iraq has closed its airspace until 2:30 GMT to “preserve the safety of civil aviation”, as has the Lebanese government.
The Jordanian authorities, where several missiles have also been intercepted, have denied initial reports of a state of emergency in the country. US fighter jets are based there and have previously flown over Jordanian and Iraqi territory to intercept Iranian drones.
While Egypt has raised its state of emergency to high alert, a crisis cell of all relevant (Egyptian) agencies and institutions is closely monitoring developments in the region and reporting to President Abdelfatah al Sisi 24 hours a day.
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