Iran privately messaged the US that its retaliation was concluded, senior administration official says
From CNN's Priscilla Alvarez
Iran privately messaged the United States that its retaliation against Israel had concluded, echoing what Iran said publicly, according to a senior administration official.
“We received a message from the Iranians as this was ongoing, through the Swiss, basically suggesting that they were finished after this, but it was still an ongoing attack,” the official told reporters on Sunday.
Late Saturday, Iran said its attack on Israel is a response to Israel's strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and "the matter can be deemed concluded."
But earlier Sunday, Iran's chief of staff warned the United States and Israel against any future attacks.
Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, said Iran sent a message through the Swiss embassy warning the United States if it cooperates with Israel in its possible next actions, US bases will "not have any security" and will be "dealt with."
2:38 p.m. ET, April 14, 2024
US ships destroy missiles headed for Israel, a senior official says
From CNN's Aileen Graef
US ships operating in the eastern Mediterranean Sea engaged in and destroyed between four and six Iranian ballistic missiles during Iran's attack on Israel, according to a senior US military official.
The official said the aircraft in the region shut down more than 70 Iranian one-way UAVs headed toward Israel. The US Army Patriot missile battery shut down one ballistic missile in the vicinity of Erbil, Iraq, determined to be en route to Israel.
The official said the missile was not believed to be targeting US or coalition forces.
“There were no US casualties or damage, and our forces remain postured to provide additional defensive support to protect US forces in the region,” the official told reporters on Sunday.
2:20 p.m. ET, April 14, 2024
There were tense moments in the White House Situation Room as Iran launched strikes, US official says
From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg
President Joe Biden meets with members of the National Security team regarding the unfolding missile attacks on Israel from Iran on Saturday evening in the White House Situation Room. Some portions of this handout photo have been blurred by the source. Adam Schultz/The White House
US President Joe Biden gathered Saturday night with his national security team for “real-time updates” on Iran’s attack against Israel amid what one senior administration official described as “tense moments” in the White House Situation Room.
One of the updates the president received was the timing of missile launches including when “over 100 ballistic missiles” were launched within minutes and when the results were unclear, the official said.
Overall, Iran launched more than 300 “air threats,” a senior military official told reporters Sunday. When it became clear that Israel’s defenses had succeeded in foiling the attack, “there was a bit of a relief,” the official said.
“It was shortly after we believe the attack was largely defeated. The president reaffirmed our unwavering support for Israel's defense,” the senior military official said of the call between Biden and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Sunday, the president gathered his advisers early in the Situation Room, according to the same senior military official. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, and Mideast coordinator Brett McGurk were all present, the official said.
Preparations ahead of Saturday’s attack started nearly two weeks ago, the same senior administration official said, including when Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Sullivan briefed the president on “the possibility of additional military deployments” during the Japanese prime minister's visit to Washington this past week.
CNN's Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this reporting.
1:51 p.m. ET, April 14, 2024
Israel's war cabinet meeting ends without a decision on Iran attack response, an official says
From CNN's Jeremy Diamond
The hours-long war cabinet meeting ended Sunday night without a decision on how Israel will respond to Iran’s attack, an Israeli official said.
The cabinet is determined to respond – but has yet to decide on the timing and scope.
The official said the Israeli military has been tasked with coming up with additional options for a response.
Separately, a senior Biden administration official told reporters that an Israeli official told the United States that it's not looking to significantly escalate the showdown with Iran.
“I think Israel made clear to us they're not looking for a significant escalation with Iran. That's not what they're looking for. They're looking to protect themselves and defend themselves,” the senior administration official said.
Israel war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said earlier Sunday that Israel will “exact a price from Iran in a way and time that suits us.”
CNN's Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.
1:49 p.m. ET, April 14, 2024
US Congressional leaders are at odds over next steps on providing more funds for Israel
From CNN's Michelle Shen and Melanie Zanona
House Speaker Mike Johnson holds a press conference at the U.S Capitol in Washington, DC, on April 10. Samuel Corum/Getty Images/File
US Congressional leaders from both parties were quick to condemn Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel this Saturday but remain at odds on how to pass additional Israel funding in the wake of the attacks.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he will move forward with a vote on additional Israel aid but did not go into specifics about his plans as he walks a knife’s edge with conservatives over the potential inclusion of Ukraine funding.
“The House Republicans and the Republican Party understand the necessity of standing with Israel. We’re going to try again this week, and the details of that package are being put together right now. We’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues,” Johnson told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures.”
But hardline conservatives are warning Johnson against attaching Ukraine funding to any Israel aid package, underscoring the competing pressures on the speaker as he weighs critical decisions about the path ahead following Iran’s attack on Israel.
“Congress should be clear: no action by Iran or Israel merits a vote on the Ukraine omnibus the Senate seeks,” GOP Rep. Warren Davidson wrote on social media.
The pressure campaign from Johnson’s right flank comes amid bipartisan calls — including from GOP Leader Mitch McConnell — to take up the Senate-passed foreign package that includes money for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, arguing that is the fastest way to get aid to Israel.
G7 leaders condemn "in the strongest terms" Iran's attack against Israel
From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite and Radina Gigova
The leaders of the G7 condemned "in the strongest terms" Iran’s unprecedented direct attack against Israel, in a joint statement released on Sunday after a virtual meeting.
"We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security," reads the statement. "With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided," it said.
The G7 leaders vowed to continue working toward stabilizing the situation and avoiding further escalation. "In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives," the statement said.
The meeting was chaired by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
1:30 p.m. ET, April 14, 2024
World Food Programme bakery reopens in northern Gaza, Israeli agency says
From Eugenia Yosef in Northern Israel and Jennifer Hauser in Atlanta
COGAT, the Israeli agency coordinating the inspection and delivery of humanitarian assistance for Gaza, says a World Food Programme (WFP) bakery has reopened in northern Gaza.
COGAT noted that this bakery produces about 650,000 pita bread daily and showed a video of piles of bread wrapped in plastic covering the counters and floors.
"This bakery joins 2 other bakeries that reopened in central Gaza last week. More than 23 bakeries are operational in Gaza, providing over 3 million pita breads daily," COGAT added on its X post Sunday.
WFP said much-needed fuel was delivered to the bakery in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), so its machines could start producing bread after being closed for months.
"Bakeries have been unable to operate for several months due to conflict and lack of access. We need safe & sustained access to prevent famine," WFP said on X Sunday.
"One of the main reasons for famine was the shutdown of bakeries," bakery owner Kamel Ajour said in a WFP video. "Making bakeries work again will bring back life to the Gaza Strip."
1:28 p.m. ET, April 14, 2024
A Turkish source says Iran informed Turkey in advance of the attack and the country then informed the US
From CNN’s Scott McLean in Istanbul and Xiaofei Xu in Paris
Iran informed Turkey last week, before its strike on Israel, of “the options” for retaliation, a Turkish diplomatic source told CNN. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan then informed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of Iran's "possible developments."
“The developments did not come as a surprise,” the source said. “The Iranian side informed us about the options in advance,” the source said, adding that “possible developments” were also discussed during the call between Fidan and Blinken. “The American side conveyed to Iran through us that the reaction should remain within certain limits,” the source said. “In response, Iran said that the response would be a retaliation to the attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus and would not go beyond that.”
Turkish diplomatic sources also said that Fidan spoke Sunday with the Iranian foreign minister and said that Turkey did not want to see further escalation in the region. Fidan also spoke with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron with the same message of de-escalation.
1:24 p.m. ET, April 14, 2024
Lebanese Hezbollah praises Iran's attack on Israel
From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah congratulated Iran's leadership following a “qualitative and unprecedented” attack targeting what it said was the “unjust and aggressive enemy entity” of Israel.
In a statement Sunday, the group praised Iran's decision to respond firmly to what it described as “Zionist aggression” against the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
Hezbollah lauded what it said was Iran's exercise of its "natural and legal" right to retaliate, despite facing “threats, intimidation, and pressure.” The operation, which Hezbollah described as executed with unparalleled courage and wisdom, achieved its military objectives despite the involvement of the United States, its international allies, and regional actors.
