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 18, 2024, 2:38 PM EDT
Israel makes significant process in preparations for Rafah evacuations: Source
Israel has made significant progress in preparations for the evacuation of around 1 million civilians from Rafah ahead of the Israeli military’s impending operation in the southern Gaza city, according to an Israeli source.
Preparations have been ongoing for over a month, including repairing water and sewage pipes and amassing thousands of tents, the source said.
Members of the Abu Draz family inspect their house after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Apr. 4, 2024.
Fatima Shbair/AP
There are around 1.5 million Palestinians estimated to be in the Khan Younis and Rafah areas in southern Gaza. It’s believed around 1 million people would evacuate north. The evacuation process, which could take weeks, would not start until after Passover.
State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel stressed to reporters that "any kind of forced relocation or displacement of the Palestinian people within Gaza cannot and should not be part of any plan or an operation."
-ABC News’ Matt Gutman and Anne Flaherty
Apr 18, 2024, 10:25 AM EDT
US, Israeli officials to hold high-level meeting on Rafah plans
U.S. and Israeli officials will hold a high-level, virtual meeting on Thursday about alternative plans for an Israeli military operation in Rafah, a White House official confirmed to ABC News.
Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Apr. 17, 2024.
Mohammed Salem/Reuters
The official said that it will be a secure video meeting that will follow up on discussions from earlier this month. National security adviser Jake Sullivan will lead the meeting for the U.S. side, the official said.
"The main purpose really is to talk about Rafah ... and also share our continued concerns over a major ground offensive there," White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart
Apr 18, 2024, 9:41 AM EDT
US sanctions 16 people, 2 groups after Iran attacks
The U.S. is sanctioning two groups and 16 people it says enabled Iran's drone production following Iran's attack on Israel last weekend.
A view shows drones or missiles vying for targets at undisclosed locations in northern Israel, Apr. 14, 2024.
Atef Safadi/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
"Today, in coordination with the United Kingdom and in consultation with partners and allies, we are taking swift and decisive action to respond to Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. "We’re using Treasury’s economic tools to degrade and disrupt key aspects of Iran’s malign activity, including its UAV program and the revenue the regime generates to support its terrorism."
The Treasury Department said it’s sanctioning Khuzestan Steel Company, Iran's largest steel producer. The Treasury Department said Iran's metals sector generates "several billion dollars in revenue annually."
A man kisses a mock rocket during an anti-Israel rally after Iran launched drone attacks against Israel at Palestine Square in Tehran, Iran, early morning, Apr. 14, 2024.
Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The U.S. is also targeting the Iranian carmaker Bahman Group for its role in making vehicles used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for military operations.
The sanctions also target people who work for Iran-based drone manufacturers, including executives of the Mado Company, which the U.S. says produced drone engines used in Iran's Shahed UAVs. The U.S. also sanctioned members of the IRGC who it says help supply proxy groups, like the Houthis in Yemen, with drones that have attacked U.S. service members in the Red Sea.
Yellen added that the U.S. would "continue to deploy" sanctions to counter any further action by Iran, with the goal of making it harder and more expensive for Iran to undertake destabilizing actions.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that these sanctions are "holding Iran accountable."
President Joe Biden, along with members of his national security team, receive an update on an ongoing airborne attack on Israel from Iran, as they meet in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington, April 13, 2024. From l-r., facing Biden are, Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns, Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. (Adam Schultz/The White House via AP)
Adam Schultz/The White House via AP
Biden emphasized that the sanctions are in coordination with the international community, and he said the other G7 countries are committed to increasing "economic pressure" on Iran alongside the U.S.
Biden said he has instructed his team to continue to impose sanctions that will degrade Iran's military capabilities.
Biden also reiterated his ironclad support for Israel, and issued a warning to Iran and those who "enable" Iran's attacks.
"We are committed to the security of our personnel and partners in the region," Biden said. "And we will not hesitate to take all necessary action to hold you accountable."
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart and Justin Gomez
Apr 17, 2024, 6:16 PM EDT
Israel not likely to carry out strike until after Passover: US official
Israel is unlikely to carry out a strike on Iran until after Passover, a senior U.S. official told ABC News, although that could always change.
Passover begins on Monday and ends after nightfall on April 30.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other leadership are still on a high state of alert, with some in safe houses and underground facilities, the official said.
