Israel says more than 20 rockets were fired from Syria into the Golan Heights by Iranian forces last night, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two nations.
Israeli forces responded in kind and “the two regional enemies exchanged fire for hours during a volatile night”, says CNN.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There have been no immediate reports of casualties in the Golan Heights, and a damage assessment is still under way.
Syrian state TV reports that an Israeli strike subsequently hit an ammunition depot and a radar site on its territory, and claimed that dozens more missiles had been intercepted. Israel has warned Russia and Syria not to intervene in its response.
“The IDF views this Iranian attack very severely,” Conricus said. “This event is not over.”
The Guardian reports that Israel is determined not to “permit Tehran to establish a permanent military presence in Syria, accusing Iran of moving drones and missiles into its Arab neighbour”.
Last night’s exchange of fire was “the most direct confrontation between Israel and Iran to date”, says CNN, but it was not a suprise. Israel “had been expecting an Iranian response for some time”.
The attacks comes less than 24 hours after Donald Trump scrapped US support for the Iran nuclear deal.
-
Is Marjorie Taylor Greene undergoing a political realignment?TALKING POINTS The MAGA firebrand made a name for herself in Congress as one of the Donald Trump’s most unapologetic supporters. One year into Trump’s second term, a shift is afoot.
-
Film reviews: ‘Jay Kelly’ and ‘Sentimental Value’Feature A movie star looks back on his flawed life and another difficult dad seeks to make amends
-
6 homes on the Gulf CoastFeature Featuring an elegant townhouse in New Orleans’ French Quarter and contemporary coastal retreat in Texas
-
Israel jolted by ‘shocking’ settler violenceIN THE SPOTLIGHT A wave of brazen attacks on Palestinian communities in the West Bank has prompted a rare public outcry from Israeli officials
-
Why these Iraqi elections are so importantThe Explainer The US and Israel are increasingly pressuring Baghdad to tackle Iran-backed militants, while weakened Iran sees Iraq as a vital remaining ally
-
Israel arrests ex-IDF legal chief over abuse video leakSpeed Read Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi had resigned from her post last week
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Gaza’s reconstruction: the steps to rebuildingIn The Spotlight Even the initial rubble clearing in Gaza is likely to be fraught with difficulty and very slow
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
‘Extraordinary asymmetry’: the history of Israeli prisoner swapsIn The Spotlight Exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees is the latest in a series of trades in which Israeli lives appear to count for more
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s planSpeed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
