Op True Promise / Iron Shield - 13 April 2024 - Iran Strikes Israel
“In response to the crime of the Zionist regime in the attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, the IRGC air force hit certain targets in the territories of the Zionist regime with dozens of drones and missiles.” Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) stated. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, quoting an informed source, reports that a batch of ballistic missiles was launched towards targets in Israel. Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut reported many “active interceptions” of incoming attacks over the skies of Tel Aviv, and Al Jazeera’s cameras captured a number of flashes in the night sky above the city.
Iran’s UN mission said at 19:00 Eastern time its attack, in response to an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, is “concluded”, and warned Israel against retaliation. Iran’s mission to the UN said on X that its drone and missile attack on Israel was conducted “on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense” and in response to Israel’s April 1 attack on its embassy in Damascus, Syria. With the attack, “The matter can be deemed concluded,” says Iran. “However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY,” it added.
It was the single largest drone attack ever carried out by any country, and it was the first time Iran directly attacked Israel after almost a half-century of being archenemies. Iranian media reported that 17 missiles hit Nevatim Air Base and said that at least seven others struck the nearby Ramon Air Base. According to the IRGC Public Relations Office, details of the operation, which was carried out with the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, under the supervision of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and with support from the Iranian Army and Defense Ministry, will be made public soon.
The Israeli military also said that the vast majority of the projectiles were intercepted outside the country’s borders, with help from the United States, the United Kingdom and France. Jordan also shot down some of the missiles aimed at Israel as they were flying through Jordanian airspace. Israel’s military added that a “small number of hits were identified”. In a base located in southern Israel, “minor damage occurred to the infrastructure”. A seven-year-old girl was also severely injured by missile fragments, while other patients sustained minor injuries and some were treated for anxiety. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the US also intercepted “dozens” of missiles and drones launched at Israel from Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
At 15:45 Eastern time Saturday 13 April 2024, multiple sources reported that Iran had launched an attack against Israel using dozens of drones [one report said 150 drones, another said "hundreds"]. Earlier, Joe Biden returned home early from vacation to the White House, saying “I estimate Iran will attack Israel soon.” Israel had closed all of its airspace starting at 0100 local. Countries including Jordan also closed their airspace. Iran closed its airspace around its capital for the next 10 days.
Iranian television reported shortly before midnight that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's attack began with cruise missiles against targets in the occupied territories. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it carried out an operation using drones and missiles “in response to the Zionist entity’s crime of bombing our consulate in Syria.” It added, "The operation was carried out with dozens of missiles and drones to strike specific targets in the occupied territories."
According to state-owned Iranian PressTV, the Israeli air defense system was currently under a cyber attack. That has not been independently confirmed and Israeli officials have repeatedly said that their defenses are ready for the Iranian drone attack. Earlier in the day, it was confirmed by Israeli and Iranian officials that Iran has launched a drone attack on Israel in response to Israel's attack on Iran's embassy in Syria earlier this month.
The words of the IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari: "A short time ago, Iran launched missiles from its territory into the territory of the State of Israel. You are asked to be alert and act according to the instructions of the Home Front Command. The Home Front Command's warning system knows how to provide a real-time warning in an area where there is danger. I remind you that no matter where the threat is launched from, when an alarm sounds you must enter the protected space and wait there for at least ten minutes. no less. We will update in real time if you are required to stay there for a longer time.
"The air defense system is fully operational and intercepts threats wherever it is needed, even at these moments. Many HA planes are now operating in the sky and are ready against any threat. You may hear explosions from interceptions or falls. Since we are talking about different types of threats, it is possible that the alerts will operate in large areas. I urge you to refrain from spreading unverified rumors and reports, stay updated with the announcements of the IDF spokesperson and the official directives of the Home Front Command only. Continue to behave responsibly, calmly, as you have done so far and make sure to act according to the instructions. We are strong and capable of this event as well. The IDF will do whatever it takes to protect the citizens of the State of Israel....
"The State of Israel is on high alert. We increased our readiness to defend the State of Israel against further Iranian aggression. We are also ready to respond. The Israel Defense Forces is prepared for all scenarios and will take the necessary steps - together with our allies - to protect our people.""
In accordance with the situation assessment, residents of the northern Golan Heights, the Nabatim area, Dimona and Eilat are asked to stay until further notice near a protected area that can be reached during self-defense.
Israel’s chief military spokesman, Daniel Hagari, said Iran’s attack involved more than 120 ballistic missiles, 170 drones, and more than 30 cruise missiles. Shahed-136 kamikaze drones that carry a relatively small warhead weighing some 50kg (110 pounds) were used in the attack on Israel, Iranian state television later said. Telegram channels affiliated with the IRGC said the Shahed-238, which is powered by a turbojet rather than the propeller on the 136 model, was also used in the attack. The Shahed-238 model sacrifices some manoeuvrability for significantly higher speeds that are believed to reach as high as 600kmph (375mph). State television said the Emad long-range ballistic missile and the Paveh cruise missile were used to attack Israel.
Israeli Channel 12 said that Iran's drones were expected to begin reaching their targets at 2:00 after midnight if they do not fall. The theoretical air distance (great circle distance) between Tehran and Tel Aviv is about 1,600 kilometers or just under 1,000 miles. The typical subsonic flight time from Iran to Israel would be of the order of 2.5 hours, or 150 minutes, so simultaneous time-on-target attacks [fast flying ballistic missiles] would arrive as early as about 18:00 Eastern time, about 1:00 AM Sunday local Tel Aviv time. On the other hand, if the drones are the slower propeller driven Shaheds, with a speed of about 90-115 mph or 150-185 kph, the travel time would be 8.5 to 11 hours, with an arrival time of around midnight Saturday to around 2:30 AM Sunday. Even the newer jet-propelled Shahed-238, twice as fast as the propeller driven Shaheds, would take 4 or 5 hours.
Israel has good attack warning capabilities, so these slow fliers allow plenty of time for Israelis to evacuate to shelters. Ukraine has had good success in shooting down Iranian-design drones, so it might be expected that many of the drones that formed the initial wave of the Iranian attack would be shot down by Israeli air defenses before reaching their targets. With Israel alerted by the initial slow flying wave of drones, Iranian would wind up striking empty buildings. Israeli defenses would probably intercept most Iranian drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. The end result would be enough missiles launched to satisfy Iran's honor, while not producing so much damage and injury in Israel as to provoke further escalation.
These reports came minutes after Israel's government 767-338(ER) airborne command post took off from Nevatim Airbase in the southern part of the country. The Israeli War Cabinet convened at 00:30 local time at the command bunker in the Kirya, Tel Aviv [not the Prime Minister's Office]. The Defense Minister in the command staff bunker. The wherabouts of other leaders were initially unknown.
Prime Minster, Benjamin Netanyahu stated : "Citizens of Israel, In recent years, and even more so in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack from Iran. Our defense systems are deployed, we are prepared for every scenario, both in defense and attack. The State of Israel is strong, the IDF is strong, the public is strong. We appreciate the U.S. standing by Israel, as well as the support of Britain, France and many other countries. I set a clear principle-whoever hurts us, we hurt them. We will defend ourselves against any threat and we will do so with composure and determination.* I know that you citizens of Israel are also keeping your cool. I urge you to follow the Home Front Command's instructions. Together we will stand, and with the help of the Lord, together we will overcome all our enemies."
Two days eearlier, on 11 April 2024, Netanyahu visited the Tel Nof Air Base, where he met with the personnel of the 133rd Squadron, which operates F-15s. "We have determined a simple rule: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively. The people of Israel and I rely on you; may we all have great success." Tel Nof Air Base is reported to be the location of Israel's aircraft delivered nuclear weapons, with Netanyahu's visit underlining Israel's nuclear deterrent.
Israeli airline El Al said that it had canceled 15 flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, while closing the airspace as a precautionary measure. The company added - in a statement - that the foreign destinations affected by the decision include Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Bucharest, Sofia, Athens, Dubai and Moscow.
N12 Israeli TV reported senior Israeli officials stated: "We intercepted 99% of the missiles launched at Israel..." There was an initial report of a 10-year-old boy from the Bedouin diaspora was seriously injured by missile fragments, MDA teams gave him medical treatment on the spot and referred him to the hospital. MDA paramedic Zohar Sarbintsky said: "Near the entrance to Arad, we joined a private car that came from the diaspora. In the back seat was a boy about 10 unconscious with a shrapnel injury to his head. We gave him life-saving medical treatment and evacuated him to the hospital when he was in serious condition."
The Spokesman for the Israel Defense Force, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari Confirmed that Iran has launched an attack against Israel consisting so far of Dozens of One-Way “Suicide” Drones currently passing through Iraq, he states that it will take Hours for the Drones to reach Israel and that GPS Jamming and other Measures from the United States as well as other Allied Countries are already in place to result in their Interception.
ABC quoted a senior American official as saying that he believes Iran will launch between 400 and 500 drones and missiles at Israel. CNN also reported that an Israeli military official said that he expected Iran to launch additional waves of drones over time. It also said that US President Joe Biden was meeting with his national security team in the White House Situations Room.
The US forces have shot down a number of Iranian drones flying towards Israel, ABC News reported on Sunday, a citing a US official. Later reports from Israeli media, citing Israeli Defense Force officials, said that US and UK forces intercepted "over 100" Iranian drones.
The British outlet Sky News reported that the military planes of the United States and Great Britain shot down several Iranian drones over the Iraqi-Syrian border. Later, the Minister of Defense of the United Kingdom confirmed that British Air Force aircraft are operating in the Middle East. "Additional jets and aerial refueling tankers have been deployed to the Middle East to support Op Shader, the UK's ongoing operation against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. In addition, the jets will intercept air attacks within our mission range," the statement said.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson confirmed on Saturday that Iran has begun its airborne retaliatory attack against Israel, and President Joe Biden is in contact with Israeli officials. "Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel," Watson said in a press release. "President Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House. His team is in constant communication with Israeli officials as well as other partners and allies," she added.
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