Israel Prepares Response after Iran's Unprecedented Drone Attack
Authorities in Tel Aviv are soon to announce their response to the overnight attack by Iran. This decision will be made by a three-person war cabinet authorized by the Israeli security cabinet.
The creation of a war cabinet in Israel was reported from Saturday to Sunday overnight by CNN, citing an Israeli source. The panel includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Galant, and opposition politician Benny Gantz.
Netanyahu earlier stated in a speech that Israel is prepared for a direct attack by Iran and will respond accordingly. "Whoever hurts us, we will hurt them," he declared.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during a phone call with the head of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, requested that the United States be informed of any response to the Iranian attack.
Tensions in the Middle East: Iran attacks Israel
According to the Israeli armed forces, over 300 "threats" were fired from Iran towards Israel during the night, including drones and ballistic missiles. The strike lasted five hours. CNN reports that it was the largest drone attack in history.
Most of the drones and missiles were intercepted by air defence and fighters.
President Joe Biden said, "Iran—and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq—launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel".
The Tehran attack was a declared retaliation for Israel's bombing last week of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals responsible for Iran's foreign military operations.
