Night skies ablaze, Israel intercepts hundreds of Iran's drones
6:59 AM EDT, April 14, 2024
The Israel Defense Forces released photos showing pilots involved in the nighttime operation to intercept drones and missiles fired from Iran.
The images shared on social media feature, among others, Israel Air Force crew members in a hangar and two pilots with obscured faces.
The caption explains that the photo was captured upon their return from a mission designed to neutralize aerial objects approaching Israel from Iran.
Tensions in the Middle East as Iran Targets Israel
During the night, Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel, 99% of which were successfully intercepted, marking a "significant strategic victory," according to the Israeli military's statement on Sunday morning. The assault lasted five hours. "This is the largest drone attack ever recorded," CNN reported.
US President Joe Biden described "Iran—and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq—launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel".
In an earlier statement, Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is prepared for a confrontation with Iran and will retaliate forcefully. "Whoever hurts us, we will hurt them," he declared.
The Tehran offensive was cited as a response to Israel's recent bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. The attack resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, including two generals overseeing Iran's foreign military operations.
