Former President Donald Trump has stated that Iran’s recent aerial attack on Israel would not have occurred if he were still in office. He made this statement in response to Israel’s warning that the surge in hostilities is far from over.
Iran retaliated against Israel overnight by launching a significant aerial attack, marking the first direct strike from Tehran’s territory into Israel in years. The assault was a response to an earlier incident, which Iran attributed to Israel, involving an attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. The strike resulted in casualties among Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the attack.
According to Hagari, Tehran launched a total of 170 explosive drones, over 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles towards Israel. The IDF confirmed that there were a few successful strikes, with one military base in the southern part of the country sustaining minor damage.
Tehran justified its actions by stating that it conducted a “series of military strikes on Israeli’s military bases” in response to what it perceived as “Israel’s recurring military aggressions.” The Iranian government claimed that these strikes were carried out in exercise of its inherent right to self-defense.
U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, revealed on Saturday that American forces stationed in the Middle East successfully intercepted a significant number of missiles and drones. These threats were aimed at Israel and originated from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The interception operation proved to be a critical defense measure against potential acts of aggression in the region.
President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. military has deployed aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region in the past week. He emphasized that the United States played a crucial role in assisting Israel in intercepting and neutralizing the majority of the incoming drones and missiles.
“We strongly condemn the reckless and unprecedented attacks carried out by Iran and its proxies. It is imperative that Iran immediately cease any further attacks, including those carried out by its proxy forces, and take immediate steps to de-escalate the current tensions,” stated Austin.
“In a recent statement posted on X, Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, emphasized the aggressive nature of Iran, referring to it as a terrorist state. He highlighted the attack on Israel, which involved numerous missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Gallant further praised the joint efforts of Israel, the United States, and their partners in successfully foiling this unprecedented assault.”
United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, expressed deep concern regarding the imminent risk of a severe escalation across the entire region.
In a statement, the speaker emphasized the importance of all parties exercising utmost restraint to prevent any actions that may result in significant military conflicts across various regions in the Middle East. He further reiterated the critical notion that the world, as well as the region itself, cannot afford to engage in another war.
