Explosions are seen in the sky over the capital following an attack from Iran on Tel Aviv, Israel on April 14, 2024.
Mostafa Alkharouf | Anadolu | beautiful images
Iran launched a series of explosive drones and missiles at Israel late Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli territory, threatening a serious escalation as the United States pledged support. “iron and steel” support for Israel.
Sirens sounded and Reuters journalists in Israel said they heard heavy noises and explosions in the distance in what local media called the interception of an explosive drone. The ambulance service said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The Israeli military said more than 100 drones were launched from Iran, while security sources in Iraq and Jordan said dozens were seen flying overhead and US officials said the US military shot down a number of them.
Israel’s Channel 12 television quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying there would be a “significant response” to the attack.
Iran’s state news agency quoted a source as saying that the country’s military also launched a series of ballistic missiles. The Israeli military also said rockets were fired, but there were no immediate reports of these attacks in Israel.
Iran vowed to retaliate for what it called an Israeli attack on the consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed seven Guard officers, including two senior commanders, and said the attack Their merits were a punishment for “Israel’s crimes”. Israel has not confirmed or denied responsibility for the consulate attack.
“If the Israeli regime commits another mistake, Iran’s response will be significantly more severe,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said, warning the US to “stay away.” However, they also said Iran now “considers the matter closed”.
US President Joe Biden, who on Friday warned Iran of an attack, cut short a visit to his home state of Delaware to meet with national security advisers in the Situation Room of the U.S., an official said. The White House. He pledged to stand with Israel.
The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, now in its seventh month, has fueled tensions in the region, spilling over into fronts with Lebanon and Syria and firing long-range fire at Israeli targets as far away as Yemen. and Iraq.
British maritime security company Ambrey said in a statement that the drone was also believed to have been launched by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group against Israel.
Those clashes now risk turning into a direct open conflict, pitting Iran and its regional allies against Israel and its main backer, the United States, with regional power Egypt calling “maximum restraint”.
Channel 12 reported that US and British warplanes participated in shooting down a number of Israeli drones over the Iraq-Syria border area. Three US officials said the US military shot down drones, without saying how many.
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Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: “This is a serious and dangerous escalation. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest level of readiness ahead of the attack.” this large scale from Iran”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose official plane took off shortly after the attack began, convened the war cabinet at military headquarters in Tel Aviv, his office said.
The Israeli military said sirens would sound in any threatened area and that its defense forces were ready to deal with drones they deemed “potentially explosive”.
Nir Dvori, a Channel 12 television reporter, said: “We usually have about 20 seconds to get to a shelter when a missile hits. Here, warnings are issued hours ahead of time. That naturally increases the level of anxiety among the Israeli public.” social media.
Explosions are seen in the sky over the capital following an attack from Iran on Tel Aviv, Israel on April 14, 2024.
Mostafa Alkharouf | Anadolu | beautiful images
The Israeli army has asked people in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to stay near bomb shelters, putting the area on alert for possible impact from drone attacks. drive.
Israel and Lebanon said they would close their airspace on Saturday night. Two regional security sources said Jordan, a country located between Iran and Israel, has prepared air defense forces to intercept any drones or missiles that violate its territory.
Residents in several Jordanian cities said they heard strong noises in the air.
Syria, an ally of Iran, said it was placing ground-based air defense systems around the capital and major bases on high alert, military sources there said.
condemn
The European Union, Britain, France, Mexico, Czechia, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands all condemned the Iranian attack.
Israel has been preparing for Iran’s response to the attack on the consulate in Damascus since last week, when Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Israel “must be punished and will suffer” for an operation which he called the equivalent of an operation on Iranian soil.
Biden on Friday said his only message to Iran was “Don’t,” but added that “we are dedicated to defending Israel.”
Iran’s main ally in the region, the Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah, which has been locked in a gun battle with Israel since the war in Gaza began on October 7, said Sunday morning it had fired rockets at a Israeli base.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that a Guard helicopter boarded and brought the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries into Iranian waters.
MSC, the company that operates the Aries, confirmed Iran had seized the ship and said it was working “with relevant authorities” to bring the ship back safely and ensure the safety of its 25 crew members. .
In a statement, Zodiac said MSC chartered the Aries from Gortal Shipping, a subsidiary of Zodiac Maritime, adding that MSC was responsible for all operations of the vessel. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of piracy.
