© Amir Cohen/ReutersAnti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel • Ashkelon, Israel
Air raid sirens and loud booms sounded across Israel Saturday evening after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at the country in a
retaliatory attack, but Israeli officials said the assault was almost entirely thwarted by air defense systems and with the help of the U.S. and Israel's other allies.
More than 300 missiles and drones were fired from Iran toward Israel, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari
said. He said
virtually all of the weapons were intercepted before entering Israeli territory and he reported
only minor damage to one military base from the few ballistic missiles that did land in the country. Hagari confirmed that
a 10-year-old girl had been "severely injured by shrapnel," but said "as far as we know, there are no additional casualties."
"The Iranian threat met the aerial and technological superiority of the IDF, along with a strong fighting coalition — which together intercepted the overwhelming majority of the threats. 99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted — a very significant strategic achievement."
The IDF
said in a separate, earlier statement posted on social media there were some injuries from the Iranian-launched missiles, including at a military base in southern Israel, but the full statement released later by Hagari made no mention of casualties.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said very little damage was caused, in a statement early Sunday, lauding his own forces and Israel's American and other international partners for having "thwarted this attack in an impressive manner."
Comment: Iran: A test run to assess who, what and how. Israel: Display of force for self-confirmation