Iran Launches Drone and Missile Attack on Israel

(Israel) Iran's military forces launched a series of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones toward Israel this evening (April 13th), according to various spokespersons from Israel, in an apparent response to an Israeli attack on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Damascus, Syria earlier this month; tonight’s events mark the first time that Iran has directly attacked Israel from Iranian territory.

A photo of objects being intercepted in the sky after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, courtesy of Amir Cohen/Reuters via The Globe and Mail.

As of 8:25pm EST, the X account for the Israeli support group Stand With Us, @standwithus, reported that the Iranian regime had fired over 200 missiles and drones toward Israel; most were intercepted. A 7-year old Bedouin girl in southern Israel is in critical condition following the attack, and an IDF base in southern Israel suffered minor damage, according to a post from @standwithus.

Reports that Iran had launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from within its territory toward Israel emerged at approximately 3:30pm EST this afternoon.

“Iran launched UAVs from within its territory toward Israel a short while ago,” read a statement on X from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) account, @idf, upon reporting the incoming attack. “The IDF is on high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation. The IDF Aerial Defense Array is on high alert, along with IAF fighter jets and Israeli Navy vessels that are on a defense mission in Israeli air and naval space. The IDF is monitoring all targets.”

Israeli Defense Forces Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari spoke in a statement issued on X, courtesy of the IDF on X, @idf.

"Together with our partners, the IDF is operating at full force to defend the State of Israel - and the people of Israel,” stated a post immediately following the report of the incoming aerial attack from the IDF’s X account, quoting IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari. “This is a mission that we are determined and ready to fulfill.”

Per the Wall Street Journal, President Biden met with his national-security advisers and reaffirmed the United Stats’ commitment to Israel’s security; the U.S. military in recent days has rapidly repositioned its resources in the region in anticipation of an Iranian attack.

“I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel,” reads a post from President Biden’s account on X, @POTUS, at approximately 7:45pm this evening. “Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.”

Iranian missiles over The Temple Mount / Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, courtesy of the Israeli support group Stand with Us on X, @standwithus.

The Wall Street Journal’s live coverage feed explained that Iran’s use of ballistic missiles against Israel in this weekend’s attack showcases the Iranian regimes military capabilities; Iran has the largest ballistic missile capability in the Middle East, with U.S. officials estimating it has over 3,000 of them. Ballistic missiles are initially powered by rockets, but then fall unpowered to hit their targets, according to the WSJ.

Per the news outlet Visegrad 24 on X, @visegrad24, Jordan has opened its airspace to Israeli fighter jets to combat Iranian drones.

This is an ongoing report.