The expected retaliation from Iran has eventually arrived: Tehran has launched a drone and missile attack on Israel.
Iran has launched a retaliatory strikes on Israel nearly two weeks after an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria killed seven IRGC members.
According to the first reports, “True Promise”, as the Iranian operation has been dubbed, consists of hundreds of kamikaze drones launched from Iranian towards Israel. Cruise missiles have also been reportedly fired. Claims that ballistic missiles were also on their way to Israeli targets have been denied for the moment.
“In response to the Zionist regime’s numerous crimes, including the attack on the consular section of Iran’s Embassy in Damascus and the martyrdom of a number of our country’s commanders and military advisors in Syria, the IRGC’s Aerospace Division launched tens of missiles and drones against certain targets inside the occupied territories,” an IRGC statement read.
Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, warned that “Whatever country that could open its soil or airspace to Israel for a [potential] attack on Iran, will receive our decisive response.”
The goal of the attack is obviously to swarm Israeli air defenses. The Israeli multi-tiered missile defense system that Israel has fielded throughout the year relies on the famous Iron Dome, intended for the lowest layer of the Israel’s defense network and capable of downing rockets, cruise missiles, and drones; the David’s Sling system, for the middle-tier, which got its baptism of fire in May 2023, when it shot down a rocket from the Gaza Strip during a five-day clash between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group; the Arrow, designed to intercept large ballistic missiles; and the US-made Patriot system, which is primarily used for anti-aircraft purposes.
The preparation
After the strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, which killed seven Iranian officers, Iran immediately promised to retaliate. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Israel “must be punished and shall be” for an operation he said was equivalent to an attack on Iranian soil. And this time, Iran let it be understood that it would directly attack Israel without using its proxies.
While White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby and several western intelligence services said the threat from Iran was real and viable, Israel started preparing to fend-off the possible attack. “Over the past day, the military has conducted a situational assessment and approved plans for a range of scenarios following reports and statements on an Iranian attack,” chief military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement on April 12.
In the late evening of April 13, reports started spreading of Iranian Shahed drones flying at low altitude over Iraq, headed for Israel. Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt completely closed their airspaces, while Iran closed it only to VFR flights. GPS jamming and spoofing are intense in the region at the moment.
Situation according to official NOTAMs at 21:35 UTC time.
* Iran airspace closed to VFR flights only.
* Jordan airspace closed.
* Iraq airspace closed.
* Lebanon airspace closed.
* Israel airspace closed. pic.twitter.com/vOeG2Qjcp4— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) April 13, 2024
Confirmation of the attack
Iran launched UAVs from within its territory toward Israel a short while ago.
The IDF is on high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation. The IDF Aerial Defense Array is on high alert, along with IAF fighter jets and Israeli Navy vessels that are on a… pic.twitter.com/eEySouGVcN
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 13, 2024
As a consequence of the attack, the airspaces of the regional nations have been closed.
Situation at 22:00 UTC.
Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel airspace closed. pic.twitter.com/JCKVpAB85R— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) April 13, 2024
Along with the Israeli aircraft, U.S. and British fighters were scrambled to intercept the incoming drones.
British fighter jets based in Cyprus have begun helping intercept Iranian missiles, drones fired from Iran at Israel.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 13, 2024
A U.S. official confirms that U.S. forces have shot down some of the Iranian drones headed towards Israel.
— luis martinez (@LMartinezABC) April 13, 2024
Assets tracking online
Some aircraft can be tracked online using flight tracking websites.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
The Israeli Governments “Doomsday plane” has taken off and is the only plane leaving Israel.
Potentially carrying Netanyahu and cabinet.
This is very bad. pic.twitter.com/baG2ipKysr
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 13, 2024
USAF KC-135R squawking 7700 is among the most tracked aircraft right now. Currently returning to Al Udeid, it was previously flying over Iraq near the border with Syria. pic.twitter.com/raAkEJWs1T
— Stefano D’Urso (@stedur93) April 13, 2024
MLAT glitch possibly due to jamming momentarily puts Israeli aircraft inside Syrian airspace. Obviously, it’s not there. pic.twitter.com/ywfNIEkL6W
— The Aviationist (@TheAviationist) April 13, 2024
Updates
The flow of news and claims on social networks is almost overwhelming. It’s not easy to discern between legit news and fake news.
Multiple reports show videos of both drones and ballistic missiles being launched, but their authenticity can’t be confirmed. Iranian media are also speaking about the use of both drones and missiles in the attack. The Iranian mission to the United Nations released a statement mentioning that the attack won’t go further if Israel doesn’t react.
Conducted on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense, Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus. The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli…
— Permanent Mission of I.R.Iran to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) April 13, 2024
Meanwhile, here’s where sirens are active in Israel.
🚨Sirens sounding across Israel🚨 pic.twitter.com/BuDasagr10
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 13, 2024
First videos of the interceptions.
Video showing interceptions over Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/fvkK504mAH
— doge (@IntelDoge) April 13, 2024
Israel, now. pic.twitter.com/zottJnlei5
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 13, 2024
Air defenses active over Israel pic.twitter.com/ecwGxl1dIQ
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 13, 2024
Israel got the iron dome , those drones aren’t fucking with that anti-defense , it’s the best in the world… pic.twitter.com/PccEXaiHiQ
— JP 🏁 (@400Italy) April 13, 2024
CNN is reporting that US forces have engaged several Iranian drones, with Royal Air Force assets joining in according to Sky News, shooting down more than 100 targets. ABC is reporting that 400-500 drones in total could be launched at Israel from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, & Yemen, according to US officials.
Israeli air defenses went active at about 22:50 GMT, shooting down targets as they entered Israeli airspace. At about the same time, multiple intercepts were reported also over Jordan, with videos showing air defenses intercepting multiple targets. Reuters reported that the Jordanian Air Force fighter jets were also involved in the intercepts.
The UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced that additional Typhoon fighter jets and Voyager tankers have deployed to RAF Akrotiri to bolster Op Shader, the UK’s existing counter-Daesh operation in Iraq & Syria. In addition, the jets will intercept airborne attacks within range, said the Secretary. ADSB data showed Voyager tankers departing Akrotiri tonight, possibly supporting Typhoons on their way to CAP areas from where they could intercept the attacks.
Additional @RoyalAirForce jets and air refuelling tankers have deployed to the Middle East to bolster Op Shader, the UK’s existing counter-Daesh operation in Iraq & Syria.
In addition, the jets will intercept airborne attacks within range of our existing missions. My statement: pic.twitter.com/14p2kwGxb6
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) April 13, 2024
Multiple videos are reporting debris of intercepted Iranian missiles falling down in urban areas, as well as some missile impact on Israeli soil and subsequent explosions. Meanwhile, Iranian accounts are claiming other missiles are being launched from Iran.
Additional footage from the remains in the Marj Al-Hamam a municipality in Amman, Jordan. pic.twitter.com/aELx8hsKaG
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) April 13, 2024
It appears there have been several impacts on Israel during the Iranian attack. pic.twitter.com/OINUPuIKbv
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 13, 2024
The United States will continue to provide additional defensive support to Israel, shooting down Iranian-launched attacks against Israel.
Pentagon statement, from a defense official pic.twitter.com/QVHKq5uyzX
— Brian Everstine (@beverstine) April 13, 2024
Meanwhile, Iranian media outlets released some footage of the drones and missiles used in the attack.
Iran shared video of the UAVs and missiles used in the attack it launched against Israel tonight. pic.twitter.com/O0mpQ2LE2e
— Levent Kemal (@leventkemaI) April 13, 2024
U.S. President Biden posted an image of his meeting with the national security team.
I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. pic.twitter.com/kbywnsvmAx
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 13, 2024
An Iranian missile struck an area in the Negev. pic.twitter.com/GKhGh3O1uE
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 13, 2024
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
Stefano D’Urso is a freelance journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he’s also studying to achieve a Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Electronic Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT techniques applied to the world of military operations and current conflicts are among his areas of expertise.
