Israel launched a retaliatory strike against Iran early Friday morning local time, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.
The strike followed Iran's attack on Saturday, when Tehran sent a volley of more than 300 drones and missiles toward targets in Israel, according to Israeli military officials. All but a few were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States, officials said.
Iran's weekend attack came more than six months after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, after which the Israeli military began its bombardment of Gaza.
Israeli officials said the country's Iron Dome defense system endured a big test from Iran's attack on Saturday, intercepting 99% of the 300 "threats of various types" thrown at it.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari, launched 170 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more than 120 ballistic missiles and more than 30 cruise missiles in the attack.
Hagari said "99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted -- a very significant strategic achievement."
Hagari said the attack resulted in only one known Israeli casualty, a 7-year-old girl who was severely injured when she was struck by shrapnel apparently from an intercepted missile.
Apr 10, 2024, 1:43 PM EDT
US skeptical that Hamas has enough hostages to fulfill 1st phase of proposed deal: Source
U.S. officials are skeptical that Hamas is holding enough Israeli hostages to meet the requirements for the first phase of the proposed deal currently on the table, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
A man walks past posters with pictures of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Apr. 9, 2024.
Hannah Mckay/Reuters
The proposal calls for Hamas to hand over 40 hostages who are either: children; women not affiliated with the Israel Defense Forces; sick adults; or adults over 50 years old, according to the officials.
In exchange, Israel would free an undefined number of Palestinian prisoners and implement a cease-fire of at least six weeks.
-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Apr 10, 2024, 1:36 PM EDT
World Central Kitchen worker hurt in separate IDF strike
World Central Kitchen said one of its workers was injured in a separate airstrike in Gaza on the same day that seven WCK workers were killed.
Fifteen minutes before the Israeli attack that killed seven workers on April 1, "One of our brave Palestinian staff members was gravely injured in a reportedly deadly airstrike at al-Bashir Mosque in Deir al-Balah," World Central Kitchen said in a statement.
The two attacks were within miles of each other, WCK said.
The Palestinian staff member, Amro, suffered "serious head and hand injuries while he was off duty in a home close to the mosque in the area surrounding our warehouse and newly established kitchen in Deir al-Balah," WCK said.
He was in a coma for some time and is now recovering, the agency said.
"Amro joined the WCK team just after the start of the year," WCK said. "He was given rare opportunities to leave Gaza for Egypt several times, but he refused. He always says, 'I am here serving people hot food every day. I will not leave my job and let them suffer.'"
Apr 10, 2024, 10:47 AM EDT
3 sons of Hamas political chief killed in Israeli strike, Hamas says
Three sons of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to a statement from Hamas.
Three of the brothers’ children were also killed in the strike.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the strike and said the sons were part of Hamas' military wing.
Apr 09, 2024, 7:06 PM EDT
'No higher priority': Harris meets with American hostages' families
During a meeting at the White House on Tuesday with the families of Americans being held hostage by Hamas, Vice President Kamala Harris said there is "no higher priority than reuniting the hostages with their loved ones," according to a White House readout.
Harris also reaffirmed the United States' commitment to bringing home the remains of those hostages who have been confirmed dead, according to the readout.
Vice President Kamala Harris meets with the families of American hostages being held by Hamas, Washington, D.C., April 9, 2024.
@VP/X
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose 23-year-old son Hersh is being held hostage by Hamas, described the meeting with Harris as "very productive."
“There is a possibility of holding two truths,” Goldberg-Polin told reporters outside the White House. “You can believe, as we do, that it is horrible that innocent civilians in Gaza are suffering, and at the same time you can also know that it is horrible and against international law for hostages to be held against their will."
Goldberg-Polin said her son got his arm blown off during Hamas' attack at the Nova Music festival on Oct. 7. Her husband, Jonathan Polin, said that they "have no choice but to stay hopeful."
Family members of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza speak to the press after meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris outside the West Wing of the White House, in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 2024.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, called on Hamas to reach a deal to release the hostages.
"We are waiting now and the world waits for Hamas to get to yes," Dekel-Chen told reporters. "It is in their court."
