Middle East in Turmoil: Iran attacks Israel with drones, missiles in unprecedented revenge mission

In an unprecedented revenge attack, Iran launched armed drones and missiles against Israel, marking a new and more volatile phase of the Middle East conflict. (Image credits: Reuters)

In an unprecedented revenge attack, Iran launched armed drones and missiles against Israel, marking a new and more volatile phase of the Middle East conflict. According to reports, the attack was in response to a strike in Syria that killed top Iranian military officers and was the first time Iran has struck Israel from its soil.

However, most of over 200 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and attack drones fired by Iran were intercepted before landing by the allies of Israel, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said early Sunday. A 10-year-old girl was badly injured in the attacks apart from some minor damage to an army base, Hagari said on the impact of the missiles and drones fired so far. He had earlier called the attack "a severe and dangerous escalation."

Making his first comments on the development, US President Joe Biden said commitment to Israel is 'ironclad'. “I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel,” Biden said in a posting on X, formerly Twitter. “Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” Biden said after returning to the White House from his private residence in Delaware.

Biden also said that he will convene a meeting of G7 leaders to "co-ordinate a united diplomatic response" to Iran's attack, according to BBC.

Iran defended the attack and its mission to the United Nations said the action was a “legitimate” defensive response to the strike in Damascus — which Israel hasn’t acknowledged carrying out — and suggested it was a warning. It also warned the US to stay away from the conflict.

“The matter can be deemed concluded,” the Iranian mission said in a social media post. “However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corp said that the attacks were part of its "Operation True Promise" and were aimed at "specific targets" in Israel.

India also reacted to the development in the Middle East, which could further delay the recovery of the global economy. "We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region. We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy, said the ministry of external affairs in a statement on early Sunday.

"We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. Our Embassies in the region are in close touch with Indian community. It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region, the ministry added.

Reports said multiple alarms were sounded in various parts of Israel, including Jerusalem, Beer Sheva and Dimona in the south, and the Jewish settlement Ariel in the West Bank. Residents of Jerusalem reported hearing blasts. Alarms also sounded in Israel’s north. The Israel Defense Forces said it cut off GPS services in some areas to help counter the attack.

Several of the drones and missiles were shot down by Israel's allies. It was confirmed by a US defense official, who said that its forces in the region shot down Iranian-launched drones, while the UK defense ministry informed that it has deployed its Royal Air Force jets to intercept any drones heading towards Israel.

Attack Condemned

One of the first among the world leaders to respond to the attack was the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq,” Sunak said in a statement. The attack was also condemned by France, Germany and the European Union.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has been under-fire by the Israeli side since the October 7 attacks by Hamas, called for an immediate end to the tensions, citing the risk of a “devastating region-wide escalation.” Israel asked for an emergency session of the UN Security Council.

The assault escalates a Middle East conflict that began on October 7 when thousands of Hamas operatives broke into Israel from Gaza, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 250. A direct clash between Iran and Israel would likely draw in the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah, which like Hamas is backed by Iran, and heighten the possibility of a regional war.

With inputs from Bloomberg