Israel-Gaza updates: 22, including 18 children, reported dead in Rafah strikes

The IDF says it struck military targets of terrorist organizations in Gaza.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: April 21, 2024, 4:13 PM EDT

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.

Apr 14, 11:27 am

What to know about Iran's attack on Israel

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 19, 2024, 12:22 PM EDT

G7 foreign ministers: Iran should be held accountable for 'malicious and destabilizing actions'

The foreign ministers at the G7 meeting in Capri, Italy, issued a lengthy statement condemning Iran’s weekend attack on Israel.

Israel's military displays what they say is an Iranian ballistic missile which they retrieved from the Dead Sea after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, at Julis military base, in southern Israel, Apr. 16, 2024.
Amir Cohen/Reuters

"We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel of April 13-14, which Israel defeated with the help of its partners. This was a dangerous escalation, as Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones," the leaders said.

"We will hold the Iranian government accountable for its malicious and destabilizing actions and we stand ready to adopt further sanctions or take other measures, now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives," the leaders said.

PHOTO: Iranian worshippers walk past a mural showing the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Basij paramilitary force, during an anti-Israeli protest after Friday prayers in Tehran, Apr. 19, 2024.
Iranian worshippers walk past a mural showing the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Basij paramilitary force, during an anti-Israeli protest after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, Apr. 19, 2024.
Vahid Salemi/AP

They added, "In light of reports of strikes on April 19th [from Israel to Iran], we urge all parties to work to prevent further escalation."

The G7 leaders also called on Israel to do more to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

-ABC News’ Anne Flaherty

Apr 19, 2024, 11:24 AM EDT

House votes to advance foreign aid bills, including $26B for Israel

The House on Friday cleared a key procedural hurdle in passing foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, despite dozens of Republican defections, with Democrats helping Speaker Mike Johnson avoid a defeat.

The Israel bill would provide roughly $26 billion in aid.

Its passage means the House will debate the bills Saturday morning before voting Saturday afternoon to send it to the Senate.

Apr 19, 2024, 11:07 AM EDT

Israelis fired 3 missiles in limited strike

Three missiles were fired from Israeli fighter aircraft outside of Iran in Friday morning’s very limited strike, according to a senior U.S. official.

The Israelis were targeting an air defense radar site near Isfahan that’s part of the protection of the Natanz nuclear facility, the official said. The first assessment is that the strike took out the site, but assessment hasn’t been completed, the official said.

An Iranian Shiite Muslim cleric raises a clenched fist as others carry pictures of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, during an anti-Israel demonstration after the Friday noon prayer in Tehran, Apr. 19, 2024.
Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

The strike was intended to send a signal to Iran that Israel has these capabilities, but was not looking to escalate the situation, according to the official.

Apr 19, 2024, 7:51 AM EDT

Blinken says US 'not involved' in Israel's strike on Iran

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denied any U.S. involvement in Israel's retaliatory strike on Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds a press conference at the end of the G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, April 19, 2024.
Remo Casilli/Reuters

Blinken was asked at a press conference early Friday morning if Israel told the United States in advance of the strikes in Iran.

"I’m not going to respond," Blinken said. He went on to say that "the U.S. was not involved in any Israel offensive.”

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