Israel hails ‘success’ in blocking Iran’s unprecedented attack; Biden seeks diplomatic response

TEL AVIV —  Israel on Sunday hailed its air defenses in the face of an unprecedented attack by Iran, saying the systems thwarted 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched toward its territory. Regional tensions were high amid fears of an Israeli counter-strike that could fuel escalation.

President Biden convened a meeting of the Group of 7 advanced democracies “to coordinate a united diplomatic response.” The participants unanimously condemned the attack and said they “stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives.”

The U.S. made clear that it would not participate in offensive action against Iran. 

“We don’t seek a war with Iran. We’re not looking for escalation here,” White House national security spokesman John F. Kirby told NBC.Iran launched the attack in response to this month’s strike, widely blamed on Israel,on an Iranian consular building in Syria. The strike killed two Iranian generals.

Israel said Iran launched 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles.

By Sunday morning, the attack was over, Iran said, and Israel had reopened its airspace. Israel’s war Cabinet held a meeting.

“We will build a regional coalition and collect the price from Iran, in the way and at the time that suits us,” said Benny Gantz, a key war Cabinet member.

Israel and Iran have for years been engaged in a shadow war marked by attacks such as the Damascus strike. But Sunday’s assault, which set off air-raid sirens across Israel, was the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault, despite decades of enmity dating back to its 1979 Islamic Revolution.Israel over the years has established — with the help of the United States — a multilayered air-defense network that includes systems capable of intercepting long-range missiles, cruise missiles, drones and short-range rockets.

That system, as well as assistance from the U.S. and others, helped thwart what could have been a far more devastating assault at a time when Israel is already bogged down in its war in the Gaza Strip against Hamas and is engaged in low-level fighting on its northern border with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia. Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Iran.

Israeli and U.S. officials praised the response to the aerial assault.

“Iran launched more than 300 threats, and 99% were intercepted,” said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman. “That is a success.” Asked if Israel would respond, Hagari said it would do what is needed to protect its citizens.

Hagari said none of the drones or cruise missiles reached Israel, and only a few ballistic missiles got through. Of the cruise missiles, 25 were shot down by the Israeli air force, he said.

Hagari said minor damage was caused to an Israeli airbase, but it remains functional. Rescuers said a 7-year-old girl was seriously wounded in southern Israel, apparently in a missile strike, though police were investigating the circumstances.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a message on X: “We intercepted. We blocked. Together, we will win.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant thanked the U.S. and other countries for their assistance.Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, said the operation was over, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. 

“We have no intention of continuing the operation against Israel,” he was quoted as saying.

Iran said it targeted Israeli facilities involved in the Damascus strike and told the White House early Sunday that the operation would be “minimalistic.” Turkey said it acted as intermediary for the messages.

Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, said the country had taught Israel a lesson and warned that “any new adventures against the interests of the Iranian nation would be met with a heavier and regretful response from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard issued a new threat against the U.S., saying “any support or participation in harming Iran’s interests” will be followed by a decisive response by armed forces.

The success of Israel’s defense stands in sharp contrast to the failures it endured during Hamas’ attack  Oct. 7. Facing a far less powerful enemy in Hamas, Israel’s border defenses collapsed, and the military took days to repel the militants — an embarrassing defeat for the Middle East’s strongest and best-equipped army.

While thwarting the Iranian onslaught could help restore Israel’s image, what the country does next will be closely watched in the region and in Western capitals.

President Biden said U.S. forces helped Israel down “nearly all” the drones and missiles and pledged to convene allies to develop a unified response. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain’s air force shot down a number of Iranian drones. Jordan, which sits between Israel and Iran, indicated that its military also assisted.Biden later spoke with Netanyahu. 

“I told him 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,” Biden said.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the U.S. would hold talks with allies in the coming days.

Israel and Iran have been on a collision course throughout Israel’s six-month war against Hamas. In the Oct. 7 attack, militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, also backed by Iran, killed about 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped around 240. An Israeli offensive in Gaza has caused widespread devastation and killed more than 33,000 people, according to local health officials. 

In other developments, negotiations meant to bring about a cease-fire in exchange for the release of the hostages appeared to hit a setback. 

Netanyahu’s office said Hamas rejected the latest proposal for a deal, which was presented a week ago by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

A Hamas official said the group wants a “clear written commitment” that Israel will withdraw from Gaza during the second of a three-phase cease-fire deal. The deal presented calls for a six-week cease-fire in Gaza, during which Hamas would release 40 of the more than 100 hostages it is holding in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s jails, including 100 who are serving long sentences for serious crimes.

Hamas welcomed Iran’s attack, saying it was “a natural right and a deserved response” to the strike in Syria. Hamas urged other Iran-backed groups in the region to continue to support it in the war.

Almost immediately after the war erupted in Gaza, Hezbollah began attacking Israel’s northern border. The two sides have had daily exchanges of fire, while Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen have launched rockets and missiles toward Israel.

Goldenberg writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Zeke Miller in Washington; Amir Vahdat in Tehran; Samy Magdy in Cairo; Omar Akour in Amman, Jordan; and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed to this report.