Iran Directly Attacks Israel for First Time, Firing 300+ Drones and Missiles

Iran launches its first-ever direct military strike against Israel — over 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles — in retaliation for the Damascus consulate attack, breaking decades of proxy-only warfare.

On April 13–14, 2024, Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israeli territory — firing over 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles, and over 120 ballistic missiles toward Israel in a strike it called "Operation True Promise." It was the first time in history that Iran had directly attacked Israel from Iranian soil. Israel, the US, UK, France, and Jordan worked together to intercept the vast majority of the projectiles — an Israeli official said over 99% were shot down. Damage in Israel was minor, with only one child seriously injured. Israel subsequently launched a limited retaliatory strike inside Iran. The exchange was widely seen as a historic escalation that shattered the decades-long norm of the two countries fighting only through proxies.