Paul Ellertson, staff writer 

On April 13, Iran launched its first ever attack on Israel since 1991, with over 300 drones and missiles, dubbed Operation True Promise. According to AP News, this attack comes as an escalation to the “silent war” that has been going on between the two countries for years and as the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza rages on.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei held a meeting on April 20 to congratulate the Iranian military for their efforts in the retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel. Iran launched Operation True Promise after Israel attacked the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria on April 1, which killed around 13 people, including two officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 

“How many missiles were launched and how many of them hit their target is not the primary question, what really matters is that Iran demonstrated its power during that operation,” said Leader Khamenei in the televised meeting on April 21, as reported from Al Jazeera. 

While many of the Iranian missiles and drones were shot down by Israel anti-war weapons and help from the U.S., U.K. and Jordan, the remaining missiles hit their intended targets and created moderate damage. “The main issue is the emergence of the Iranian nation and Iranian military’s will in an important international arena. This is what matters,” said Leader Khamenei in the same April 21 meeting, as reported from AP News.

According to AP News, the only damage sustained was at Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel, which had ripped apart a taxiway. Israel has been able to rebuild very quickly.

In the same April 21 meeting, Leader Khamenei did not mention the retaliatory strike Israel had made back to Iran on April 19. According to Reuters, Iran has been trying to downplay the most recent attack on its soil because they so far have no retaliatory plans. Iranian media has also been trying to downplay the attack through dismissive language during interviews such as calling the attack “infiltrator” strikes rather than pointing the finger towards Israel. 

However, according to the BBC, U.S. sources indicate that Israel had in fact used a missile, directed toward the city of Isfahan, to attack Iran. This attack forced Iran’s anti-air defenses into action and grounded most of the country’s airspace from commercial flights. There have been no official reports of casualties or damage. According to Reuters, the diplomatic work that has been ongoing since Iran’s first retaliation against Israel seems to be successful enough in avoiding another war. 

According to Reuters, neither Israel nor the U.S. have commented on the April 19 attack. U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken has again stated that the U.S. will continue supporting Israel through these escalations.