Iran fired missiles and more than 100 armed drones at Israel on Saturday night, bringing the Middle East closer to an all-out regional war.
Iran's UN mission said Tehran now considers its retaliation for the attack on the diplomatic compound in Damascus to be over after firing drones at Israel. "The matter can be considered over... However, if the Israeli regime makes another mistake, Iran's response will be even more severe," the statement said. "This is a conflict between Iran and the rogue regime in Israel, and the United States must stay away!"
The first wave of drones launched by Iran arrived in Israel at 02:00 local time (07:00 Beijing time), and the second wave of drones was reportedly launched. Iran also launched its first wave of ballistic missiles at Israeli targets. Video released by Iran's official news agency showed Iranian ballistic missiles hitting Israeli territory. Israeli media reported that the US military carried out dozens of interceptions of Iranian missiles or drones over Jordan and Iraq. Israeli officials said 99% of Iranian drones and missiles had been intercepted.
IDF spokesman Hagari said a "large number" of Israeli fighter jets were in the air ready to counter the Iranian attack. Senior Israeli officials said there would be a "significant response" to the unprecedented Iranian attack.
A spokesman for the National Security Council said, "President Biden has made it clear: our support for Israel's security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the Israeli people and support them against the threat from Iran."
Iran's Defense Minister warned that any country that opens its airspace to Israel to intercept drones will be targeted. Jordan may be the next target, according to reports. Iran's Foreign Minister said that necessary warnings had been issued to the United States that if the United States intervenes in the dispute between Israel and Iran, U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East will be hit.
The second statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran stated that since international organizations, especially the UN Security Council, did not condemn Israel's attack on Iranian diplomatic institutions, Iran responded to Israel's crimes by using its strategic intelligence capabilities, missiles and drones to attack important military targets on Israeli territory, successfully hitting and destroying these targets.
After the situation escalated, cryptocurrencies plunged, with Bitcoin plummeting by more than $6,000, a plunge of 8% during the day, and then rebounded. (Jinshi)