On April 13, 2024, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began a massive attack on military targets in Israel. This attack included the use of more than 200 unmanned combat drones, cruise missiles and rockets.
For the first time in Iran's history, the country directly attacked its arch-enemy Israel. Iranian forces fired more than 200 unmanned combat drones, cruise missiles and missiles. The Israeli air defense system “Iron Dome” was able to intercept the vast majority of drones and missiles outside Israel’s borders. However, a girl was injured.
Immediately after the attack became known, the German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, called on all German compatriots to follow the instructions of the security authorities and get to safety.
The USA and the United Kingdom took an active part in repelling the attacks during the night and helped to neutralize the mass of drones and cruise missiles. More than 30 cruise missiles, 200 drones and 120 ballistic missiles were reportedly launched at Israel. Meanwhile, Great Britain announced that it would send more fighter jets to the region.
At the same time as the Iranian air strikes, the Iranian-backed Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, allied with the mullahs' regime in Tehran, also attacked targets in Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized Israel's strength and the support of the USA, Great Britain and other countries. The situation remains tense and the international community is following developments closely.
Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz, der sich zum Zeitpunkt der Angriffe mit einer Wirtschaftsdelegation auf dem Weg nach China befand, verurteilte die Angriffe scharf. Er bezeichnete sie als “unverantwortlich” und riskant für die gesamte Region.
There is great global horror at the attack: António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, condemned Iran's large-scale attack on Israel and called for an immediate end to hostilities. Guterres warned of a possible devastating escalation across the region and called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint. Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy stressed that security in the region should be the top priority. US President Joe Biden has strongly condemned the Iranian attack on Israel and reiterated America's ironclad commitment to Israel's security to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards reportedly seized a container ship with ties to Israel in the Gulf of Oman. The ship in question is called “MSC Aries” and sails under the Portuguese flag for a company owned by businessman Eyal Ofer. The incident is seen as a serious escalation in already tense relations between Iran and Israel.
The Strait of Hormuz, where the container ship was stranded, is one of the most important shipping routes for global oil exports. Iran's action has sparked international concern and is considered a violation of international law.
Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the detention a "pirate action" and called on the European Union to impose new sanctions against Iran and designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. The situation in the Middle East region remains extremely tense and the international community is following developments closely.
Background: The attack was carried out in retaliation for an attack attributed to Israel on the Iranian consular building in the Syrian capital Damascus, in which 16 people were killed in April.
jf/editorial
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