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Late on Saturday evening, Iran launched more than 170 drones and 150 missiles heading towards Israel. The Israeli army spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, says that 99% of all missiles and drones were intercepted.
Image belongs to Copyright Holders. Image from – https://www.shutterstock.com Atef Safadi/Shutterstock
Iran views this as a retaliatory attack after an Israeli drone strike on an Iranian Consulate in Damascus Syria. The drone strike killed 2 senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Generals.
This is a major escalation with G7 members meeting later today (Sunday). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced via X “We intercepted, we blocked. Together, we will win.”
Western defence of Israel
UK and US fighter jets downed several drones and missiles heading to Israel. The RAF scrambled from the UK’s Akrotiri base in Cyprus. The USAF jets took off from the USS Eisenhower, an aircraft carrier stationed in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel.
According to CNN, American forces intercepted at least 70 drones and 3 ballistic missiles downed by US Warships.
Flares from interceptions in the sky over Jerusalem
Image belongs to Copyright Holder. Image from – https://www.shutterstock.com Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock
Additionally, France aided Israel’s defense. Israel’s chief military spokesman said, “France has very good technology, jets, radar – and I know they were contributing in patrolling airspace.”
Jordan had also intercepted missiles and drones that entered their airspace.
Iranian missiles took off from 4 key sites in the West of Iran. 30 Cruise Missiles and 120 Ballistic Missiles were launched. These were launched from 4 key airbases in the East of Iran, near the Iraqi-Iranian border. These bases were in Tabriz, Khuzestan region, Dezful and Hamedan.
Israel had been preparing extensively for an imminent Iranian attack since April 1st. On April 1st Iran vowed revenge on Israel.
Joe Biden said that the US would help defend Israel, but not help in an attack against Iran. Prime Minister of the UK Rishi Sunak said on X “I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel.”
Israeli Air Force plane returning after intercepting drones and missiles from Iran, April 14th.
Image belongs to Copyright Holder. Image from – https://www.idf.il/en
Syria and Jordan have positioned air defence systems around major cities if drones wander off their designated path. Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon had temporarily closed their airspace, with all three re-opening it Sunday afternoon.
What does this mean for oil prices?
This escalation brings the region and world even closer to War. It is expected that Oil prices will rise drastically as it is expected in the case of war that oil output would reduce in the region and as a result prices increase. Such an event would be beneficial to countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and OPEC members because the rise in the price of oil would mean greater profits.
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Cover image – https://www.idf.il/en
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