Israel has threatened to respond with full force after Iran fired a ballistic missile toward Israeli territory on Sunday, with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) intercepting missile fragments near the southern city of Eilat in the first direct Iranian aerial threat against Israel since the April ceasefire took effect.
The IDF’s Iron Dome system was activated on Sunday afternoon to shoot down fragments of an Iranian ballistic missile fired toward Jordan near the border with Israel, after the United States Aegis anti-missile system had already intercepted the primary missile warhead.
Interceptor fragments fell in an open area near Eilat but there were no casualties or damage. An IDF source confirmed that no missile fragments fell within Israeli territory despite initial media reports to the contrary.
The IDF said this was the first time Iron Dome had been used against an Iranian aerial threat since the April 7 ceasefire, which included Israel, came into effect.
Defence Minister Israel Katz had earlier this week made clear that Israel would not absorb any Iranian missile fire without a response.
“If Iran fires missiles at Israel, Israel will strike Iran with force. There is no equation we will accept in which Iran fires at Israel,” Katz said at a briefing for military and diplomatic reporters. “If Iran attacks, that is the third Iran war.”
Katz said the IDF had already been ordered to prepare for an independent Israeli operation against Iran if needed.
He described it as a “blue-and-white operation,” meaning an Israeli-led strike not dependent on outside forces.
The missile fire marks a significant escalation in an already tense week. Iran has continued firing on United States allies across the Gulf, with Bahrain activating air sirens twice on Saturday after detecting incoming drones and missiles.
The US State Department also issued a worldwide caution alert on Saturday, warning American citizens of heightened tensions in the Middle East and the risk of attacks on United States diplomatic facilities around the world.
(The Whistler)