Watan-The Iranian agency “Mehr” broadcasted scenes showing the initial moments of missiles being launched towards Israeli targets in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel in its history on Saturday night, using drones and missiles. This came in response to an Israeli missile attack earlier this month on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the killing of 7 members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including General Mohammad Reza Zahedi.
The video shows Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander, Brigadier General Hossein Salami, alongside other leaders, announcing the beginning of the attack on Israel.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Mehr agency reported that the Revolutionary Guard used Shahed 136 drones and Khaybar 4 missiles in response to Israel.
An Israeli army spokesperson stated that Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel, with 99% of them being intercepted. He added that a few ballistic missiles entered Israeli airspace.
He mentioned that some of the attacks originated from Iraq and Yemen, in addition to Iran, claiming that “Iran failed to destroy our military base in Negev.”
🎥هكذا بدأ #الهجوم_الإيراني_على_إسرائيل .. فيديو يوثق لحظة انطلاق الصواريخ من الأراضي الإيرانية 👇 pic.twitter.com/WiRjgK7ZRW
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) April 14, 2024
He further stated that the missiles launched from Iraq did not reach Israeli airspace.
On the other hand, Israeli Channel 12 reported that only 7 missiles out of 110 ballistic missiles launched by Iran penetrated Israeli airspace.
CNN cited American officials saying that US forces intercepted over 70 drones and 3 ballistic missiles during Iran’s attack on Israel.
Israeli and American warplanes shot down most of the Iranian drones
Israeli and American warplanes reportedly shot down most of the Iranian drones that passed through Syrian airspace during the Iranian attack before reaching their targets in Israel, according to two Western intelligence sources on Sunday.
One of the sources said that US air defenses were launched from the American base in Tanf and from the Jordanian border, as well as in eastern Syria, where Washington maintains hundreds of troops in several air bases.
#شاهد| الدفاعات الجوية الإسرائيلية تحاول التصدي للصواريخ الإيرانية. pic.twitter.com/1CiRPeP3D0
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) April 14, 2024
The source couldn’t confirm whether US military aircraft and defensive destroyers deployed elsewhere in the Middle East were used in what he described as a “meticulously prepared” response based on precise intelligence about the timing and scope of the Iranian attack using a barrage of drones and missiles.
The sources explained that Iran-operated “Pantsir” air defense systems from several air bases inside Syria were ineffective in downing any Israeli aircraft without providing further details.
An intelligence source from the region said that US air defenses also helped Jordan in intercepting at least 10 drones and missiles that entered the kingdom’s airspace, as they were heading towards Jerusalem.
He added that Iranian drones coming from the direction of Iraq were also intercepted, flying over southern Jordan and the city of Aqaba, heading towards the port of Eilat.