| | All through Iran's dramatic direct attack on Israel, Haaretz journalists were reporting from the ground and with unparalleled accuracy, timeliness and insight, the same qualities they bring to our extensive and ongoing coverage of the Gaza war. I encourage you to sign up for the Israel at War newsletter, if you haven't already, to get an authoritative daily summary of the key events in the conflict and its many arenas in your inbox.
If you haven't yet subscribed to Haaretz, and want to see the region through expert eyes, you can do so here. | | |
|  | | Esther Solomon
Editor-in-chief, Haaretz English |
|
| | | | | | Israel at War: Get a daily summary of our on-the-ground reporting direct to your inbox |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel overnight into Sunday, firing more than 350 missiles and drones from its territory, as pro-Iranian forces joined in from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The IDF said 99 percent of the launches were intercepted with help from the U.S., Britain, France and Jordan. Biden has reportedly warned PM Netanyahu that the U.S. won't take part in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran. Hamas has rejected the latest proposal for a hostage release/cease-fire deal with Israel, the Mossad said.
Here's what you need to know 191 days into the war | | | | What happened today | | |  | | | ■ IRAN ATTACK ON ISRAEL: Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel overnight into Sunday, firing more than 350 ballistic and cruise missiles and attack drones from Iranian territory as well as Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
- Sirens sounded in Israel's north, south, the Jerusalem area and the West Bank. A military base in southern Israel, Nevatim, sustained minor damage, and a seven-year-old Bedouin girl in southern Israel was seriously wounded by shrapnel. Her condition remains unstable.
- The IDF said 99 percent of the missiles and drones fired at Israel were intercepted. The U.S., U.K., France and Jordan all confirmed they aided the interceptions.
- Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi advised Israel and its allies "to appreciate this responsible and proportionate action." Iran warned Israel that any retaliation would lead to a far bigger attack, adding that U.S. bases would be targeted if Washington backs any Israeli response against Iran.
- Iran informed Turkey in advance of its planned operation against Israel, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters, adding that the U.S. conveyed to Iran via Ankara that its operation must be "within certain limits."
- Hamas defended Iran's attack on Israel, calling it "a natural right."
- Addressing Iranian state TV, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps head Hossein Salami said Tehran had entered a new equation in which any Israeli attack on its interests, assets, officials or citizens would invite an Iranian attack on its territory.
- Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon have now reopened their airspace. Several Iranian airports including Tehran's Imam Khomeini International have canceled flights until Monday, Iranian state media reported.
"Even if Netanyahu manages to withstand the demands for instant, unhinged retribution, failing to follow up on the support Israel just received from its neighbors with a response that also includes diplomatic elements will be a waste of a historic chance to mount a much more effective front against Iran" - Anshel Pfeffer
■ IRAN ATTACK - U.S. RESPONSE: U.S. President Biden spoke to PM Netanyahu following the attack, saying that Israel "demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks – sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel."
- According to CNN and the Wall Street Journal, Biden has told PM Netanyahu that the U.S. would not participate in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran.
- NBC News reported that senior U.S. officials fear that Israel will rush to respond to the attack without considering the possible fallout, adding that President Biden privately expressed concern that Netanyahu is trying to drag the U.S. deeper into a wider conflict, according to three people familiar with the matter.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. "commitment to Israel's security is ironclad," reiterating President Biden's recent comments.
- President Biden said he would discuss formulating a unified diplomatic response to the attack with G7 leaders. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency session on Sunday at Israel's request.
- National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said that the U.S. will "continue to work with" and "advise" PM Netanyahu regarding a potential response to Iran's attack, adding that "the president's been clear: We don't want to see this escalate. We're not looking for a wider war with Iran. I think the coming hours and days will tell us a lot."
■ IRAN ATTACK - INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE: The U.S., Britain, France, Japan, South Korea, the European Commission's president and the UN's secretary general condemned Iran's attack.
- Spain, Saudi Arabia and China expressed concern over a possible escalation in the Middle East and called for restraint.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Iran's attack, saying: "We in Ukraine know very well the horror of similar attacks by Russia, which uses the same 'Shahed' drones and Russian missiles, the same tactics of mass air strikes…the obvious collaboration between the two regimes in spreading terror must face a resolute and united response from the world."
"Strategically, the stalemate remains intact. Iran proved that it has capabilities, but that it is also amenable to deterrence. The Iranian menace is not going anywhere. Iran's sponsorship of terrorism and destabilization will undoubtedly continue. But at this point in time, preventing escalation required Biden to reverse roles. The 'Don't' has now been applied to Israel" - Alon Pinkas
■ ISRAEL: Israel's war cabinet convened to discuss a response to Iran's attack after security cabinet ministers authorized PM Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz to decide what response to make.
- War cabinet member Gantz said that Tehran has "met the power of the Israeli defense system," adding that "the world resoundingly stood by Israel in the face of danger." He called the night's events "a strategic achievement that we must leverage for the sake of Israel's security." Defense Minister Gallant said there is an opportunity to form an alliance against the Iranian threat.
- Israel's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that Iran must pay a price for the attack last night, urging that "the initial price must be an immediate declaration of the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization."
- Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israel "has to go berserk" in its response in order "to create deterrence in the Middle East." Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that "if our response echoes throughout the Middle East for generations to come - we will win."
■ HOSTAGES/CEASE-FIRE: Hamas has rejected a hostage/cease-fire deal proposed by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, according to a statement released on Sunday by the Mossad. "By rejecting the deal, in which Israel showed flexibility, [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar has proved he doesn't want a humanitarian deal and to return the hostages," the Mossad said in a statement.
■ GAZA: According to Palestinian reports, the IDF fired at displaced civilians making their way to the northern Gaza Strip on a main road along Gaza's coast, killing five people.
- According to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 33,729 Palestinians have been killed and 76,371 were wounded since the start of the war.
■ LEBANON: The IDF said that Israeli air force fighter jets struck a Hezbollah weapons factory in southern Lebanon.
- A rocket fired from Lebanon landed in the village of Katzrin in northern Israel, causing property damage.
| | | | | | |  | | | Israel declared war after Hamas killed at least 1,200 Israelisand wounded more than 3,300 on October 7. In Gaza, the Hamas-controlled health ministry reports that at least 33,729 Palestinians have been killed. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad hold hostage more than 129 soldiers and civilians, dead and alive, including foreign nationals.
The war comes after ten months of the most significant domestic political and social crisis in decades, due to legislation promoted by the Netanyahu government aimed at dramatically weakening Israel's judiciary and potentially rescuing Netanyahu from the three corruption trials he faces – and amid an escalation of violence between West Bank Palestinians and Israeli settlers, the latter empowered by Israel's most right-wing government ever. | | | | |
|
|
