Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday morning posted a short “victory” message after the Israel Defense Forces and allied militaries downed 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles fired from Iranian territory at the Jewish state overnight Saturday.
“We intercepted. We blocked. Together we will win,” the premier tweeted.
Rocket warning sirens blared across the country overnight Saturday, as much of the country sheltered amid the Iranian attack, which caused very little damage and almost no injuries.
An IDF base in southern Israel was hit and lightly damaged, and a Bedouin girl, also in the south, was seriously wounded, apparently by a rocket fragment.
In a video address to the nation earlier on Saturday, Netanyahu said the country was ready to defend itself and to go on the attack.
“Citizens of Israel, in recent years, and especially in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for a direct attack by Iran. Our defensive systems are deployed; We are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively,” said Netanyahu.
“The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong,” he added.
“We have determined a clear principle: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will defend ourselves against any threat and will do so level-headedly and with determination,” he added.
U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly told Netanyahu during a telephone conversation overnight Saturday that Israel should see its defense against Iran’s attack as a “win” and that Washington wouldn’t participate in an attack on the Islamic Republic.