MEGATHREAD: Iran / Israel Conflict
This thread includes links from 13APR24. They are below the line in this post.
//18APR24//
U.S. Officials confirm Israel has struck IRGC related targets in Iran - via ABC News. Likely also Syria, and Iraq.
ALL POSTS BELOW WERE MADE ON 13APR24
Biden to return to Washington amid Iran threats against Israel - Reuters
Iran has launched a drone attack on Israel - NPR
Israel's Netanyahu says defences are 'ready' as Iran attacks - BBC
Statement from White House NCS spokesperson Adrienne Watson - White House
Iran fires drones and ballistic missiles at Israel in unprecedented revenge attack - Associated Press
1842 EST US shoots down Iranian drone aircraft bound for Israel-US officials - Reuters citing unnamed U.S. Officials. Officials did not disclose the type, precise number, or locations of the shot down drones.
1857 EST Iran-Israel Escalation Multifeed Stream - Youtube user with CNN/ABC/Others running continuously.
Jordan's Air Defence Ready to Shoot Down Any Iranian Aircraft That Violate Its Airspace - U.S. News
- Supported by this CNN Update: "Residents in Amman told CNN they saw and heard activity in the skies over different parts of the Jordanian capital early Sunday morning. Video sent to CNN by eyewitnesses show what appeared to be mid-air interceptions. The eyewitnesses said the interceptions happened just before 2 a.m. local time."
1907 EST Iran launches drone attack at Israel, expected to unfold over hours - Reuters citing Israel's military: "...more than 100 drones, which Iraqi security sources said were seen flying over the country from Iran, would take hours to reach their targets. Israeli Channel 12 said some had been shot down over Syria or Jordan."
RAF jets deployed to intercept airborne attacks, says UK's defence ministry - Sky News. Sky news also has a livestream going + a constantly updated minute by minute timeline on their homepage.
Follow up to the above, statement directly from UK MoD & SecDef equivalent
REMOVED LINK TO IRANIAN TWEET, REPLACED WITH CNN Link: In a statement released on Telegram, the ministry said Iran’s armed forces were “exercising the inherent right of self-defense stipulated in Article 5 of the United Nations Charter and in response to the repeated military aggressions of the Zionist regime and the martyrdom of the official military advisors of Iran who were working in this country [Syria] at the invitation of the Syrian government” and especially in response to the attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus earlier this month."
- note, for clarity I am quoting the statement verbatim.
Washington Post Reporter Dan Lamothe via Twitter: "Four U.S. officials confirm the U.S. military is actively involved in intercepting Iranian drones during Tehran's extended, ongoing attack on Israel."
BBC Video of interceptions over Jerusalem - BBC News
President Biden still in White House Situation Room per CNN at 1911 EST.
- President Biden via Twitter: "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."
Iran launches 70 additional missiles toward Israel: U.S. official - via ABC News
1944 EST President Biden meeting with NSC Officials concluded - CNN
Times of Israel: "Ch. 12 quotes ‘senior Israeli official’ pledging ‘unprecedented response’ to Iran attack, urging Israelis not to go to bed."
- For clarity "not to go to bed" is a recommendation to remain in shelters at this time and not go to bed in their homes. This is an effort to not have civilians caught outside shelters.
US forces do not appear to have been targeted in Iran’s attack, officials say - CNN. Reminder that the U.S. was actively involved in interception of the attack.
UN Secretary General Condemns Iran's Attack on Israel - CNN
Statement by IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari: IDF Spox Daniel Hagari saying now that most of the Iranian missiles, drones were intercepted outside of Israeli territory. So far, only one little girl has been hurt, and there has been light infrastructure damage to an Israeli military base. But for now, the IDF is considering the event to be ongoing. The IDF, says Hagari, was ready for this. Asked if the IDF will strike in Iran in the coming days, Hagari says the event is considered done, but the IDF will do everything required to protect the State of Israel.
Iranian IRGC Issues Second Warning to United States: "Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps issued a second statement warning the United States against supporting Israel. It said, 'We warn the United States terrorist government that any support or participation in attacking Iran’s interests will have a fierce response from Iran’s Armed Forces.'" - Via NYT
NYT states that SECDEF Lloyd Austin and Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant have spoken: According to Austin’s statement, he told Gallant that “Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies.”Gallant’s statement said that he briefed Austin “about Israel’s defensive operations in the face of Iran’s attack, and emphasized that the defense establishment is prepared for any further attempts to attack the State of Israel.”
2100 EST President Biden is back in the situation room and is expected to speak with Israeli PM Netanyahu according to two U.S. Officials. - via CNN
- ABC News Confirmation of the same Previous situation room meeting was roughly 2 hours long.
United Nations Security Council will meet tomorrow - via NYT. The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon to discuss Iran’s attacks on Israel, according to Malta’s mission to the U.N., which holds the rotating presidency of the Council. Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, requested the emergency meeting Saturday evening in a letter. “The attack is a severe and dangerous escalation,” his letter said.
2123EST Attack seems to have stopped. Israeli Home Command cancels request for residents to stay near shelters - via CNN
I will update this thread as more developments become available. Thus far I have seen zero information that U.S. Forces in the region were targeted, only confirmation that the U.S. was involved in interception of the missiles and drones. Jordan also assisted in interception. The IDF has publicly acknowledged that one airbase was damaged and 1 person (civilian) was killed. SECDEF Austin has spoken to the Israeli Defense Minister, and President Biden is supposed to speak to PM Netanyahu this evening. President Biden and SECDEF Austin reiterated "Ironclad support" for Israel. Multiple news sites are reporting that Israel is considering retaliatory options, but there is no confirmation of anything yet. Israel has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which will take place tomorrow.
UPDATE: President Biden is speaking to Israeli PM Netanyahu right now - via CNN
- President Biden tells Israeli PM Netanyahu that U.S. will not participate in offensive operations against Iran. This will be followed up by a meeting of the G7 tomorrow. It is also confirmed that U.S. forces in the region intercepted 70+ one way attack drones and at least 3 ballistic missiles. - via CNN
SM-3 GOES BRRRRRRR