Attack comes nearly two weeks after strike in Damascus killed top Iranian commander; Biden arrives at White House to meet with national security team in situation room
What we know
- Iran has launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, military officials said, beginning its retaliatory attack weeks after a suspected Israeli strikeon the Iranian consular building in Syria killed two of Tehran’s top commanders.
- The Biden administration expects Iran will also launch dozens of cruise missiles and dozens of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli government sites, not civilians or religious sites, a US official said.
- It will be hours before the drones arrive, the IDF spokesman said.
- The US and Israel have coordinated on a defense plan, including the USS Carney and other destroyers and assets, officials said.
23:27GMT
22:45 GMT
Iran has launched aerial drones at Israel, appearing to mark a widely anticipated reprisal attack.
Israeli TV said the salvo was expected to reach Israel at 02:00 on Sunday (23:00 GMT on Saturday).
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched missiles at Israel as well drones, Iranian state media say.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were on high alert and “monitoring all targets”. Israel’s prime minster convened a meeting of his war cabinet.
Syria and Jordan have put their air defences on alert and a number of countries in the region have closed their airspaces.
Iran had vowed to retaliate for an attack on its consulate in Syria on 1 April which killed seven military officers, including a top commander.
It accused Israel of carrying out that attack. Israel neither confirmed nor denied it.
Shortly before news of Iran’s drone launches, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s “defensive systems” were deployed.
“We are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong.
“We appreciate the US standing alongside Israel, as well as the support of Britain, France and many other countries.”
U.S. bracing for ‘major attack’ in Israel
Now that Iran has begun its retaliation against Israel, the U.S. is bracing for this to be “a major attack,” according to two senior U.S. officials.
The administration’s expectation is Iran will launch more than 100 drones, dozens of cruise missiles and dozens of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli government sites, not civilians or religious sites, one of the officials said.
The U.S. and Israel have been closely coordinating on a defense against the attack. “We’re ready. The Israelis are ready,” the official said.
Commander of U.S. Central Command Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla was in Israel for a meeting with senior Israeli officials for the past several days, and now defense officials say he is traveling in the region. During his visit, Kurilla consulted with the Israelis on a defense plan that includes U.S. help from the sea and air, as well as how Israel might respond to Iran’s attack, the senior U.S. officials said.
The administration is not expecting Iran to target any U.S. assets in the region, the officials said.
IDF says Iran has launched attacks on Israel
Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Hagari said in a televised statement in Israel today that “Iran launched unmanned aircrafts from its territory towards the territory of the State of Israel.”
He reiterated that the threat will take “several hours” to reach Israel and that the IDF and the Israeli Air Force are implementing their plan that has been prepared for this moment.
He noted that if the threat is determined to arrive sooner than expected, updates will be provided.
In a separate statement, the IDF said Iran “launched UAVs from within its territory toward Israel,” adding that the IDF, including the IDF Aerial Defense Array, is on “high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation,” as are IAF fighter jets and Israeli Navy vessels.
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Attack comes nearly two weeks after strike in Damascus killed top Iranian commander; Biden arrives at White House to meet with national security team in situation room
What we know
23:27GMT
22:45 GMT
Iran has launched aerial drones at Israel, appearing to mark a widely anticipated reprisal attack.
Israeli TV said the salvo was expected to reach Israel at 02:00 on Sunday (23:00 GMT on Saturday).
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched missiles at Israel as well drones, Iranian state media say.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were on high alert and “monitoring all targets”. Israel’s prime minster convened a meeting of his war cabinet.
Syria and Jordan have put their air defences on alert and a number of countries in the region have closed their airspaces.
Iran had vowed to retaliate for an attack on its consulate in Syria on 1 April which killed seven military officers, including a top commander.
It accused Israel of carrying out that attack. Israel neither confirmed nor denied it.
Shortly before news of Iran’s drone launches, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s “defensive systems” were deployed.
“We are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong.
“We appreciate the US standing alongside Israel, as well as the support of Britain, France and many other countries.”
U.S. bracing for ‘major attack’ in Israel
Now that Iran has begun its retaliation against Israel, the U.S. is bracing for this to be “a major attack,” according to two senior U.S. officials.
The administration’s expectation is Iran will launch more than 100 drones, dozens of cruise missiles and dozens of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli government sites, not civilians or religious sites, one of the officials said.
The U.S. and Israel have been closely coordinating on a defense against the attack. “We’re ready. The Israelis are ready,” the official said.
Commander of U.S. Central Command Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla was in Israel for a meeting with senior Israeli officials for the past several days, and now defense officials say he is traveling in the region. During his visit, Kurilla consulted with the Israelis on a defense plan that includes U.S. help from the sea and air, as well as how Israel might respond to Iran’s attack, the senior U.S. officials said.
The administration is not expecting Iran to target any U.S. assets in the region, the officials said.
IDF says Iran has launched attacks on Israel
Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Hagari said in a televised statement in Israel today that “Iran launched unmanned aircrafts from its territory towards the territory of the State of Israel.”
He reiterated that the threat will take “several hours” to reach Israel and that the IDF and the Israeli Air Force are implementing their plan that has been prepared for this moment.
He noted that if the threat is determined to arrive sooner than expected, updates will be provided.
In a separate statement, the IDF said Iran “launched UAVs from within its territory toward Israel,” adding that the IDF, including the IDF Aerial Defense Array, is on “high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation,” as are IAF fighter jets and Israeli Navy vessels.
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