Iran has vowed retaliation for what it referred to as an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1.
Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first ever direct assault on Israeli territory, risking a significant escalation as the US pledged ”ironclad” backing for Israel.
Sirens wailed and Reuters journalists in Israel stated they heard distant heavy thuds and bangs from what native media referred to as aerial interceptions of explosive drones. The ambulance service stated a 10-year-old boy was critically injured.
Israel’s navy stated greater than 100 drones have been launched from Iran, with safety sources in Iraq and Jordan reporting dozens seen flying overhead and U.S. officers saying the U.S. navy had shot some down.
Israel’s Channel 12 TV cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying there could be a ”vital response” to the assault.
Iran’s state information company cited a supply saying its navy had additionally launched a wave of ballistic missiles. Israel’s navy additionally stated missiles have been fired, however there was no instant report of those putting in Israel.
Iran has vowed retaliation for what it referred to as an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1 that killed seven Guards officers together with two senior commanders and stated its strike was a punishment for ”Israeli crimes”. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied duty for the consulate assault.
”Ought to the Israeli regime make one other mistake, Iran’s response shall be significantly extra extreme,” the Iranian mission to the United Nations stated, warning the U.S. to ”keep away”. Nonetheless, it additionally stated Iran now ”deemed the matter concluded”.
U.S. President Joe Biden, who on Friday had warned Iran towards an assault, lower brief a go to to his dwelling state of Delaware to satisfy nationwide safety advisers within the White Home State of affairs Room, an official stated. He pledged to face with Israel.
The Gaza battle between Israel and Hamas, now in its seventh month, has pushed up tensions within the area, spreading to fronts with Lebanon and Syria and drawing long-range fireplace at Israeli targets from as distant as Yemen and Iraq.
British maritime safety firm Ambrey stated in a press release that drones have been additionally reportedly launched towards Israel by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group.
These clashes now threaten to morph right into a direct open battle pitting Iran and its regional allies towards Israel and its predominant supporter the US, with regional energy Egypt urging ”utmost restraint”.
Whereas Israel and Iran have been bitter foes for many years, their lengthy feud has largely unfolded by way of proxies or by focusing on one another’s forces working in third international locations.
U.S. and British warplanes have been concerned in taking pictures down some Israel-bound drones over the Iraq-Syria border space, Channel 12 reported. Three U.S. officers stated the U.S. navy had shot down drone plane with out saying what number of.
ESCALATION
”This can be a extreme and harmful escalation. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are on the highest stage of readiness forward of this large-scale assault from Iran,” stated Israel’s navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose official jet took off shortly after the assault started, convened the battle cupboard at a navy headquarters in Tel Aviv, his workplace stated.
Israel’s navy stated sirens would sound in any threatened areas and that its defences have been poised to cope with the drones, which it stated have been ”explosive”.
”We’re used to having round 20 seconds to get to shelters when missiles are available. Right here, the warning comes hours forward of time. It naturally raises the nervousness stage among the many Israeli public,” stated Nir Dvori, a Channel 12 TV correspondent on social media.
Israel’s navy informed residents of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to remain near bomb shelters, placing the realm on standby for attainable impression from drone strikes.
Israel and Lebanon stated they have been closing their airspace on Saturday night time. Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, had readied air defences to intercept any drone or missile that violated its territory, two regional safety sources stated.
Residents in a number of Jordanian cities stated they heard heavy aerial exercise.
Syria, an ally of Iran, stated it was placing its ground-to-air defence programs across the capital and main bases on excessive alert, military sources there stated.
CONDEMNATION
The European Union, Britain, France, Mexico, Czechia, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands all condemned Iran’s assault.
Israel has been bracing for an Iranian response to the Damascus consulate strike since final week, when Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated Israel ”have to be punished and shall be” for an operation he referred to as equal to at least one on Iranian soil.
Biden stated on Friday that his solely message to Iran was ”Do not”, however added that ”we’re dedicated to the protection of Israel.”
Iran’s predominant ally within the area, the Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah that has been exchanging fireplace with Israel because the Gaza battle started on Oct. 7, stated early on Sunday it had fired rockets at an Israeli base.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s state-run IRNA information company reported {that a} Guards helicopter had boarded and brought into Iranian waters the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries.
MSC, which operates the Aries, confirmed Iran had seized the ship and stated it was working ”with the related authorities” for its secure return and the wellbeing of its 25 crew.
MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Transport, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac stated in a press release, including that MSC is answerable for all of the vessel’s actions. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
Israeli Overseas Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of piracy.
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