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
Video byJulian Kim and Dara Elasfar
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.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
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 13, 2024, 7:20 PM EDT

Air raid sirens activate all over Israel, no reports of casualties

Israel's national emergency services -- the Magen David Adom -- said it has received no reports of casualties after air raid sirens activated all over Israel.

The MDA has received calls of "stress symptoms" and injuries that occurred while people were "running to the protected areas."

With Iranian missiles still heading to Israel, the IDF has told the public to stay alert.

When an alarm sounds, people "must enter shelter and wait there for no less than ten minutes," the IDF said early Sunday morning local time.

Israel's air defense continues to intercept threats, and Israel's Air Force has planes in the air "ready to counter any threat."

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Apr 13, 2024, 6:50 PM EDT

Iran warns US to 'STAY AWAY', saying attack is 'legitimate defense'

Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations says its attack on Israel was conducted as a "legitimate defense" in response to Israel's attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria.

"Conducted on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense, Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus. The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!" Iran's permanent mission to the U.N. said in a statement.

Apr 13, 2024, 6:35 PM EDT

IDF tells residents in occupied Golan Heights region to stay close to safe rooms

The Israel Defense Forces said it has told Israeli residents in the occupied Golan Heights region to stay close to their safe rooms, according to the IDF.

"In accordance with the situational assessment, residents of the northern Golan Heights, the area of Nevatim, Dimona, and Eilat are required to stay near protective spaces until further notice," the IDF said in a statement.

"Upon the activation of sirens, it is required to enter into a protected space. If there is no protected space, it is required to find the most protected area possible. In any case, it is required to wait ten minutes, and no less," the statement said.

Apr 13, 2024, 6:23 PM EDT

US forces shot down some of the Iranian drones headed toward Israel

U.S. forces have shot down some of the Iranian drones headed towards Israel, a U.S. official confirmed to ABC News.

The U.S. has lots of capabilities in the region beyond what is in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez and Martha Raddatz

Related Topics