Israel says Iran launched drones at its territory in retaliatory strike

14/04/2024 00:00

The Israeli military said Saturday that Iran had launched drones from its territory toward Israel, in what appeared to be retaliation for a deadly Israeli airstrike in early April on the Iranian Embassy complex in the Syrian capital of Damascus. A military spokesperson said Israeli forces were following the aerial threat, which would take a few hours to arrive.

Senior Iranian officials and military commanders had pledged to retaliate since the Israeli airstrike in Damascus on April 1. Seven Iranian officers, including three top commanders, were killed in the strike, inciting Iranian vows to avenge the deaths.

"We will make them regret this crime and similar crimes, with the help of God," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces, declared a day after the strike. On Wednesday, Khamenei repeated the threat, saying that Israel "will be punished," prompting Israeli officials to vow a military response if attacked.

The United States, Israel and Iran had all placed their militaries on high alert after the April 1 strike, according to military officials, and this past week the head of U.S. Central Command traveled to Israel in anticipation of a possible Iranian strike. The question was not so much whether Iran would retaliate, but when and how.

Here's what else to know:

• Analysts said that the goal of any Iranian response would be to try to deter Israel from more assassinations. But any of Iran's potential options for retaliating carried big risks.

• President Joe Biden was cutting short his trip to his vacation home in Rehoboth, Delaware, and returning to Washington on Saturday to consult with his national security team about events in the Middle East, the White House said.

• The Israeli military said Saturday that all schools would be closed across the country and gatherings of more than 1,000 people limited. The military said the restrictions would go into effect from 11 p.m. Saturday local time and last until 11 p.m. Monday.