The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they unfold.
US military says it intercepted 80 drones, 6 missiles launched from Iran, Yemen in last night’s attack
US forces, supported by US European Command destroyers destroyed more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles aimed at Israel from Iran and Yemen last night, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) says.
This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground prior to their launch in areas controlled by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, CENTCOM says in a post on X.
Eighty UAVs would account for nearly half of the 170 drones that the IDF said were fired by Iran at Israel.
“CENTCOM remains postured to support Israel’s defense against these dangerous actions by Iran. We will continue to work with all our regional partners to increase regional security,” the US military said.
‘They’re not wrong,’ Trump says, as supporters chant ‘Genocide Joe’ at rally
Supporters at former US president Donald Trump’s re-election rally last night were filmed shouting, “Genocide Joe” — a chant that has largely been used by far-left critics of US President Joe Biden over his support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
It was unclear why the Trump supporters were using the phrase, though, animosity toward Israel has increasingly crept into circles on the far-right as well.
Regardless, Trump responded to the chants by saying, “They’re not wrong.”
It wasn’t clear what was meant by this, either. Trump has been critical of certain elements of Israel’s prosecution of the Gaza war but has also urged Jerusalem to “finish the job.”
Trump fans start chanting "genocide Joe." Trump says, "they're not wrong." pic.twitter.com/0MhJUdcmlP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 13, 2024
Biden holds call with Congressional leaders, urging them to pass Israel aid package after Iran attack
US President Joe Biden convened a call earlier today with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss last night’s Iran attack on Israel, the White House says.
Biden “discussed the urgent need for the House to pass the national security supplemental as soon as possible,” the White House adds.
The package has been held up by Republicans over opposition to provisions regarding Ukraine and immigration. The supplemental includes more than $14 billion in security aid for Israel.
Blinken speaks with Jordanian, Saudi, Egyptian, Turkish counterparts on Iran’s attack on Israel
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Iran’s attack on Israel in separate calls with Jordanian, Saudi Arabian, Egyptian and Turkish counterparts today, the US State Department says.
Blinken reiterated in each call that the US does not seek escalation and will continue to support Israel’s defense.
Chicago city councilwoman denies celebrating Iran attack on Israel after uproar
A Chicago city councilwoman denies having celebrated last night’s Iranian drone and missile attack after a degree of uproar from local Jewish community leaders.
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez had tweeted “Free Palestine” shortly after Iran’s widely reported strike had begun.
An hour later, Israel’s Consulate in Chicago tweeted, “We condemn in the strongest terms this Chicago Alderwoman’s celebration of Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel.”
“This is the same Alderwoman behind the highly controversial ‘ceasefire’ resolution. We see a pattern – not aiming for peace, but for Israel’s destruction,” the Israeli consulate added.
Four hours later, Rodriguez-Sanchez tweets, “I’ve been saying Free Palestine for decades and especially the last few months. I do not celebrate war or the loss of human life in any way.”
“I just got off a plane to see people again trying to demonize me for saying something basic. Same people who have been cheering on a genocide.”
“I hadn’t seen the news about the attacks when I tweeted, I had just watched a video of Gaza with a father sobbing holding his dead child. This moment is immensely tragic and it’s sad that there’s people choosing to create so much more hate,” she adds.
Meanwhile, the Free Press news site publishes footage of far-left activists in Chicago chanting, “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.”
Anti-war activists in Chicago learn to chant “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” in Farsi.
Read more from The FP’s @Olivia_Reingold: https://t.co/1jMM5ydhpp pic.twitter.com/z7T9AKNrF9
— The Free Press (@TheFP) April 14, 2024
GOP, Democratic Jewish groups issue joint statement condemning Iran attack
The Democratic Majority for Israel and the Republican Jewish Coalition have issued a joint statement condemning last night’s missile and drone attack by Iran against Israel.
The two groups say they “rarely see eye to eye. But today we are united in condemning Iran’s unwarranted, indiscriminate, and disproportionate attack against Israeli civilians—Jewish and Arab.”
They call on Congressional leadership to approve a security aid package for Israel. One has been held up on the Hill for months due to Republican opposition to its provisions regarding Ukraine and immigration.
“History will not forgive the failure of Congress to act. Let’s get it done!” the two Jewish groups say.
IDF lifts Iran-strike restrictions on gatherings hours after saying they’d remain in place for another day
The IDF has decided to lift the Home Front Command restrictions it had put in place shortly before last night’s Iranian missile and drone strike.
The announcement comes several hours after the army declared that the restrictions would remain in place until Monday at 11 p.m.
Schools will be allowed to reopen, though this will only have a limited impact as most are currently on Passover break. However, the directive also covers daycares, universities, school trips and camps, which were originally supposed to operate tomorrow. It is unclear whether many of them will still be able to do so, given that the IDF announcement came shortly after midnight.
The updated guidance means that the restriction on gatherings of more than 1,000 people has been lifted, allowing sporting events and concerts to go as originally planned.
Restrictions on gatherings and educational activities that have been in place since October 7 for those near Israel’s northern and southern borders will remain so, the IDF says.
