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ABC News

Israel-Gaza updates: 22, including 18 children, reported dead in Rafah strikes

PHOTO: Palestinian children sit next to the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, April 21, 2024.
5:27
Mohammed Salem/Reuters
Famine in Gaza: A timeline of how the hunger crisis is unfolding
By ABC NEWS
Last Updated: April 21, 2024, 10:05 PM
Video by Julian Kim, Dara Elasfar
Last Updated: April 21, 2024, 10:05 PM

Israel launched a retaliatory strike against Iran early Friday morning local time, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.

The strike followed Iran's attack on Saturday, when Tehran sent a volley of more than 300 drones and missiles toward targets in Israel, according to Israeli military officials. All but a few were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States, officials said.

Iran's weekend attack came more than six months after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, after which the Israeli military began its bombardment of Gaza.

Latest headlines:

  • 22 reported dead in strikes on Rafah: Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry
  • 14 'terrorists' killed in dayslong West Bank raid: IDF
  • Netanyahu responds after Blinken says US may impose sanctions on IDF
  • Israelis fired 3 missiles in limited strike
  • Blinken says US 'not involved' in Israel's strike on Iran
Here's how the news is developing.

Pinned
Apr 19, 2024 9:22 AM

What to know about Iran's attack on Israel

Israeli officials said the country's Iron Dome defense system endured a big test from Iran's attack on Saturday, intercepting 99% of the 300 "threats of various types" thrown at it.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari, launched 170 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more than 120 ballistic missiles and more than 30 cruise missiles in the attack.

Hagari said "99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted -- a very significant strategic achievement."

Hagari said the attack resulted in only one known Israeli casualty, a 7-year-old girl who was severely injured when she was struck by shrapnel apparently from an intercepted missile.


Pinned
Apr 14, 2024 10:30 AM

Iran attack 'thwarted' but 'event is not over,' Israel says

Israeli military officials on Sunday said the Iranian attack had been "thwarted" by Israel and its allies, but warned that the threat of further strikes continued.

Most of the more than 300 drones, missiles and other threats Iran launched were intercepted by Israeli and allied defenses before entering Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

PHOTO: A man walks past a light rail train stop in Jerusalem on April 14, 2024. Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel has been "foiled," the Israeli army announced on April 14.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images
A man walks past a light rail train stop in Jerusalem on April 14, 2024. Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel has been "foiled," the Israeli army announced on April 14, with almost all of the more than 200 missiles and drones intercepted with the help of the United States and allies.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

"99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted -- a very significant strategic achievement," IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

The military defense was coordinated with a group of international allies, including the United States, United Kingdom and France, Hagari said.

"This partnership has always been robust, but last night it was exceptionally evident," he said.

The attack included at least 170 uncrewed drones, none of which made it into Israeli territory, he said.

About 25 of the 30 cruise missiles launched were intercepted by Israeli fighter jets before entering Israel, Hagari said.

PHOTO: Israeli Iron Dome air defense system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran, in central Israel, Apr. 14, 2024.
Tomer Neuberg/AP
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran, in central Israel, Apr. 14, 2024.
Tomer Neuberg/AP

And more than 120 ballistic missiles were launched, with "only a few" striking targets within Israel, he said. Those that made it through struck Nevatim Air Force Base, causing "minor damage to infrastructure," he said. The base remained open, he added.

"However, it is important to say -- the event is not over," Hagari said. "We remain prepared and ready for further developments and threats."

-ABC News' Edward Szekeres and Kevin Shalvey


Apr 21, 2024 10:05 PM

Israeli Defense Minister responds to potential US sanctions on IDF battalion

Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant held a discussion with IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi regarding the developing report on U.S. intentions to impose sanctions against the IDF’s Netzach Yehuda battalion, an Israeli military unit operating in the West Bank.

"Any attempt to criticize an entire unit casts a heavy shadow on the actions of the IDF, which operates to protect the citizens of Israel," Gallant said in a statement. "Damage to one battalion, affects the entire defense establishment – this is not the right path for partners and friends."

Gallant urged the U.S. not to impose sanctions on the unit.

"Our friends and our enemies are closely watching the ties between Israel and the United States, now more than ever," Gallant said. "I call on the U.S. Administration to withdraw its intention to impose sanctions on the Netzach Yehuda battalion."

Amid reports of possible sanctions, Gallant recently completed a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Earlier today, Minister Gallant also held a discussion with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew.

-ABC News' William Gretsky


Apr 21, 2024 5:38 PM

22 reported dead in strikes on Rafah: Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry

Two strikes were launched on the southern Gaza town of Rafah, killing 22 people, including 18 children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

At least one blast occurred at the Al-Shabora refugee camp in Rafah, a spokesperson for the Kuwait Hospital in Rafah told ABC News.

The hospital spokesperson told ABC News doctors were able to rescue an unborn baby whose mother was killed in the blast at Al-Shabora camp. Officials identified the mother as Sabreen Mohamed Al-Sakani.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the strikes, telling ABC News, "At the given times, the IDF struck several military targets of the terrorist organizations in Gaza including military compounds, launch posts and armed terrorists."

-ABC News' Helena Skinner and Victoria Beaule


Apr 21, 2024 3:23 PM

14 'terrorists' killed in dayslong West Bank raid: IDF

Israeli forces have withdrawn after a dayslong raid in the Nur Shams area of the Tulkarm camp in the West Bank left 14 "terrorists" dead, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Israel Border Police forces "completed extensive counterterrorism activity based on IDF and ISA (Israel Security Authority) intelligence in the area of Nur Shams," the IDF said in a statement.

During the raid, which began Friday, "the forces eliminated 14 terrorists in close-quarters combat, apprehended 15 wanted suspects, seized numerous weapons, and destroyed dozens of explosive devices as well as two terror explosives laboratories," according to the IDF statement.

The IDF said all of the terrorists were killed during fire exchanges with Israeli forces.

Since the raid started, nine IDF soldiers and an Israel Border Police officer were "lightly to moderately" injured in the fighting, according to the IDF.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society, the first responder service in the West Bank, also said 14 people were killed as a result of the raid.

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule



Apr 20, 2024 10:05 PM

Netanyahu responds after Blinken says US may impose sanctions on IDF

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the department will be announcing his determinations regarding the Israel Defense Forces under the Leahy Law -- which empowers the secretary of state to withhold funding from units of a foreign military accused of human rights violations -- "in the coming days."

The State Department could announce sanctions against the IDF and withhold aid to the military.

"I think it's fair to say that you'll see results very soon. I've made determinations, you can expect to see them in the days ahead," he told press gathered for G7 meetings.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a statement on X saying sanctions must not be imposed on the IDF.

"In recent weeks, I have been working against the imposition of sanctions on Israeli citizens, including in my conversations with senior American government officials. At a time when our soldiers are fighting the monsters of terror, the intention to impose a sanction on a unit in the IDF is the height of absurdity and a moral low," Netanyahu said Saturday.

-ABC News' Chris Boccia and Victoria Beaule


Apr 14, 2024 10:30 AM

Iran attack 'thwarted' but 'event is not over,' Israel says

Israeli military officials on Sunday said the Iranian attack had been "thwarted" by Israel and its allies, but warned that the threat of further strikes continued.

Most of the more than 300 drones, missiles and other threats Iran launched were intercepted by Israeli and allied defenses before entering Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

PHOTO: A man walks past a light rail train stop in Jerusalem on April 14, 2024. Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel has been "foiled," the Israeli army announced on April 14.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images
A man walks past a light rail train stop in Jerusalem on April 14, 2024. Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel has been "foiled," the Israeli army announced on April 14, with almost all of the more than 200 missiles and drones intercepted with the help of the United States and allies.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

"99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted -- a very significant strategic achievement," IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

The military defense was coordinated with a group of international allies, including the United States, United Kingdom and France, Hagari said.

"This partnership has always been robust, but last night it was exceptionally evident," he said.

The attack included at least 170 uncrewed drones, none of which made it into Israeli territory, he said.

About 25 of the 30 cruise missiles launched were intercepted by Israeli fighter jets before entering Israel, Hagari said.

PHOTO: Israeli Iron Dome air defense system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran, in central Israel, Apr. 14, 2024.
Tomer Neuberg/AP
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran, in central Israel, Apr. 14, 2024.
Tomer Neuberg/AP

And more than 120 ballistic missiles were launched, with "only a few" striking targets within Israel, he said. Those that made it through struck Nevatim Air Force Base, causing "minor damage to infrastructure," he said. The base remained open, he added.

"However, it is important to say -- the event is not over," Hagari said. "We remain prepared and ready for further developments and threats."

-ABC News' Edward Szekeres and Kevin Shalvey


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