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Iran warns America ‘must stay away’ before attack on Israel ‘fizzles’ – with help from US military

April 14, 2024 | | Print Article

As drones and missiles launched from Tehran flew toward Israel on Saturday, Iran warned the United States to “stay away” from the escalating conflict with the Jewish nation.

The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations cited on X “Article 51 of the UN Charter” and declared its assault on Israel a “legitimate defense” that came in “response to the Zionist regime’s aggression” against Iran in Damascus, 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 post stated.

“The matter can be deemed concluded,” Iran’s diplomats said. “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,” they cautioned, “from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!”

On April 1, an alleged Israeli strike near the Iranian embassy in Damascus resulted in the deaths of two senior officers in Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“The malicious Zionist regime will be punished,” Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted on X.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, accused Iran of violating the UN charter and called on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to “Wake up!”

“Iran has violated the UN charter and has shown that it is a threat to global peace and security,” Erdan wrote. “Where is your voice?? Where is your condemnation? Wake up!!!”

Despite the warnings, the United States military sprang to the aid of Israel and, with the extraordinary performance of the Jewish nation’s air defense systems, the “unprecedented air attack from Iranian drones and missiles largely fizzled,” Fox News Digital reports.

The U.S. military shot down “at least dozens” of the Iranian drones, a senior U.S. official told Fox News, and the engagement is ongoing.

“U.S. forces in the region continue to shoot down Iranian-launched drones targeting Israel. Our forces remain postured to provide additional defensive support and to protect U.S. forces operating in the region,” according to a U.S. military official.

The U.S. involvement is strictly defensive, officials added.

“The U.S. will not strike, but it will defend its allies. If things are in the air we will shoot them down,” a senior U.S. military official said according to Fox News Digital.

“An Israeli defense official tells Army Radio that more than 100 Iranian drones have already been intercepted outside of Israeli airspace, out of hundreds fired at Israel,” according to The Times of Israel. “The report says the drones were downed by the United States and the United Kingdom.”

ABC News reports that a “senior U.S. official” said “they now think there will be anywhere from 400 to 500 drones and missiles launched at Israel from Iraq, Syria, southern Lebanon and the Houthis, but that the bulk will be launched from Iran.”

“The drones are the same kind used in Ukraine,” the outlet adds.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Lt. Col. (res.) Peter Lerner called Iran’s attack “diabolical.”

“A unity of decent nations came together against the diabolical intentions of #Iran,” he wrote on X. “180 explosive drones, 120 ballistic missiles, 30 cruise missiles – all with the intention to kill Israelis. 99% intercepted together.”

“Together we saved lives,” he said.

“Iran’s wide-scale coordinated attack demonstrates it poses not only a regional threat but an international one,” the IDF posted on X. “Together with a defense coalition of international partners, we achieved a successful interception of 99% of aerial threats launched by Iran.

“We stand strong together against any enemy that poses a threat to both Israel and the rest of the world.”

Melissa Fine
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