On the night of April 13th, 2024, Iran launched a series of aerial drones at Israel, sparking fears of a reprisal attack. According to Israeli media reports, the drones were expected to reach Israel around 02:00 on Sunday. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards denied any involvement in the incident and claimed that they had targeted specific locations with both missiles and drones.
In response to the imminent threat, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting of his war cabinet and ordered the closure of airspaces in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria while activating their air defenses. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was put on high alert and closely monitored all potential targets.
The United States, Britain, France, and other nations condemned Iran’s actions as reckless and reiterated their unwavering support for Israel’s security. US President Joe Biden issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and urged Iran to stop its aggression towards neighboring countries. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also condemned Iran’s actions and promised continued support for Israel and its regional partners.
Israel did not confirm or deny the attack but expressed confidence in its strength and the support received from its allies. Netanyahu stated prior to the news of the drone launches that their defensive systems were deployed and that they were prepared for any scenario. The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attack, citing what they considered to be retaliatory actions against Israel’s alleged crimes, including an attack on the Iranian embassy’s consulate in Damascus.
