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 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.”

Apr 19, 2024, 2:19 AM EDT

No damage to Iran’s nuclear sites after Israeli strike: IAEA

Iran's nuclear sites have not been damaged by Israel's strike on Iran early Friday morning, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In a statement released on social media, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi says he "continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts."

Apr 19, 2024, 12:49 AM EDT

Flight operations resume in Iran: State media

After suspending flights at several airports following reports of an explosion in Iran, Iranian state media said early Friday normal operations have resumed.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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