Israeli military: Iran fires around 350 rockets

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari reported that a coalition defense system effectively countered an overnight attack from Iran. He detailed that approximately 350 rockets, carrying around 60 tonnes of explosives, were launched from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and by Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Hagari highlighted the broader threat to the Middle East, noting that Iranian forces had also seized a Portuguese-flagged ship, signaling a direct escalation by Iran which had previously acted through its proxies. “Iran wants to escalate the situation in the region, and it’s now openly showing its intentions,” Hagari explained in a video statement on Sunday.

In a related discussion, Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer about the wider impact of Iran’s actions. Herzog condemned Iran’s provision of weapons to its proxies, such as the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its support to Russia in the Ukraine conflict. He stressed that Iran’s drone activities are causing global harm and urged the international community to stand firm against Iran.

Adding to the context, U.S. sources reported that American forces had intercepted over 70 attack drones and at least three ballistic missiles aimed at Israel. These missiles were neutralized by warships stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where the U.S. Navy has two guided missile destroyers equipped for such defenses.

Furthermore, U.S. fighter jets were actively involved in countering Iran’s assault on Saturday, successfully shooting down drones directed towards Israel, as per another U.S. official’s briefing to CNN.