Updated: Conflicting Reports Over Origin of Missiles Launched at Israel, 1 Day After Israel Strikes Iran
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced they have identified 20 rockets launched by Iran directed at Israeli posts on the Golan Heights. Conflicting reports are coming out about whether Iranian or Syrian forces launched the strikes into the Golan Heights.
The announcements come just a day after Iran announced Israeli forces had struck an Iranian weapons convoy in Syria. In apparent retaliation for the Golan Heights strikes, Israel has reportedly struck two military airports in Syria.
#BREAKING – First footage of new round of #Syrian rocket launches against #Israeli held #Golan in response to #Israel‘s strikes on #Syria. pic.twitter.com/kylLKaD2zj
— SURA (@AlSuraEnglish) May 10, 2018
About an hour ago, IDF defense systems identified approximately 20 rockets that the Iranian Quds forces launched at IDF forward posts on the Golan Heights
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) May 9, 2018
Yesterday’s action by Israel came just hours after U.S. President Doland Trump announced the U.S. was pulling out of the Iranian nuclear weapons deal. Today, air raid sirens went off throughout the Golan Heights in advance of the Iranian attack.
BREAKING: Air raid sirens blaze as Syrians living under #Israel-i occupation Golan heights can hear their army firing at the occupiers! #Syria pic.twitter.com/uFNxyKXTpO
— Partisangirl ?? (@Partisangirl) May 9, 2018
Video of the Iranian missiles and the Israeli response circulated widely on social media.
Part of exchange of fire between Israel and forces in Syria short time ago. The events are still on-going. pic.twitter.com/7etT9NLJHB
— Israel Breaking (@IsraelBreaking) May 9, 2018
BREAKING: Video of projectiles being launched from Syria toward Israeli targets moments ago. Sirens have sounded in the Golan Heights. Explosions also heard in the Golan region in the past few minutes. pic.twitter.com/WHexWfgXY8
— Israel Breaking (@IsraelBreaking) May 9, 2018
Israeli Defense Forces announced a “number of rockets were intercepted by the IDF’s Iron Dome aerial defense system” and no injuries were reported. The IDF tweeted they view the incident with “great severity” and remain prepared for a wide variety of scenarios.
Yesterday’s attack on the Iranian weapons facilities in Syria also reportedly resulted in no casualties. Isreali tanks, according to Israel Breaking, were seen on the Golan Heights border with Syria earlier today.
Israeli tanks seen on border with Syria today in Golan Heights. Military equipment continues to be brought to the border today as well, as Israel prepares for possible Iranian attack. pic.twitter.com/ohVa0Gthsj
— Israel Breaking (@IsraelBreaking) May 9, 2018
All of the action in the Middle East comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Russian President Vladamir Putin in Russia. Putin and Netanyahu started Wednesday standing alongside each other as they watched a massive Russian military parade on Moscow’s Red Square commemorating the Russian victory over Nazi Germany.
Putin and Netanyahu reportedly met numerous times, both privately and in larger meetings with other officials. Netanyahu appeared confident at the end of the day that Russia would not interfere with Israel’s right to defend itself.
“I presented Israel’s obligation and right to defend itself against Iranian aggression from Syrian territory,” Netanyahu said after meeting with Putin. “The Iranians declare their intention to attack us. They are trying to transfer forces and deadly weapons there with the explicit goal of attacking the State of Israel as part of their strategy to destroy it.”
“These things were presented in a direct and forthright manner, and this is important,” he said. “These matters are very important to Israel’s security at all times and especially at this time.”
Netanyahu also stated that he discussed with Putin the Iranian nuclear weapons documents Israel claims to have discovered and were presented just days ago as proof that Iran has an active nuclear weapons program. The IAEA, the governing body that monitors Iran’s commitment to not develop nuclear weapons, claims Israel’s documents are not proof of non-compliance by Iran. The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu announced a Russian intelligence team will visit Israel to inspect the documents.
Israel Accuses Iran of Lying About Nuclear Weapons Programs While IAEA & UN Say Otherwise