US forces shot down greater than 1 / 4 of the missiles and drones heading in the direction of Israel from Iran on Saturday night, the US Central Command stated on Sunday.
American and European allied destroyers shot down 80 Iranian assault drones and a minimum of six ballistic missiles launched from Iran and Yemen en path to Israel. It’s estimated that round 350 rockets and drones have been launched at Israel within the large-scale assault.
“Iran’s continued unprecedented, malicious and reckless habits endangers regional stability and the safety of U.S. and coalition forces,” CENTCOM stated in a press release rack. “CENTCOM continues to assist Israel’s protection in opposition to these harmful actions by Iran. We’ll proceed to work with all our regional companions to boost regional safety.”
Practically all the drones and missiles have been intercepted earlier than reaching their targets in Israel, with the Israeli authorities reporting no fatalities and solely minimal injury from the assault. It got here in response to an Israeli assault on Iranian army leaders at a diplomatic constructing in Syria earlier this month.
The strike has raised fears of a broader regional battle between Israel and Iran, as some Israeli leaders name for retaliation whereas others vow in opposition to battle. President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to induce him in opposition to escalating the battle.
“This was a really aggressive and brutal assault, akin to a declaration of battle,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated in a CNN interview on Sunday. ‘However I additionally instantly added that we’re not on the lookout for battle. We’re at all times on the lookout for peace.”
Arab governments within the area have additionally referred to as for de-escalation, as has the United Nations.
“Now’s the time for optimum restraint,” UN Secretary-Basic António Guterres stated throughout an emergency UN assembly held on Sunday on the request of the Israeli delegation.
“The folks of the area face an actual hazard of a devastating large-scale battle. That is the time to defuse and de-escalate the state of affairs,” Guterres stated. “It is time to step again from the sting. It’s important to keep away from any motion that would result in main army confrontations on a number of fronts within the Center East.”
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