Iran launches drones towards Israel, says IDF
Bethan McKernan
Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, has said that Iran has launched dozens of drones towards Israel, a development that brings the two countries to the brink of all-out conflict after more than a decade of shadow war and soaring tensions in the wake of 7 October and Israel’s war in Gaza.
The drones are “hours away” from reaching Israeli soil, officials told local media on Saturday night. Israel’s forces have been on high alert for days for the possibility of a direct attack launched by Tehran, and jets could be heard roaring across the north of the country after the announcement. Israel’s sophisticated Iron Dome air defence system is expected to be able to intercept Shahed drones, which fly at around 150km/hour.
Rumours swirled for several hours before Hagari’s statement at 11pm local time (9pm BST) about Iran’s threatened retaliation for the 1 April killing of Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, in a strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in the Syrian capital of Damascus for which Tehran holds Israel responsible.
As several surrounding countries closed their airspaces in anticipation of the attack, Israel announced that schools will be closed for the next two days.
Key events
US National Security Council: ‘The United States will stand with the people of Israel’
In a statement released on Saturday, the US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said:
Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel. President Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House.
His team is in constant communication with Israeli officials as well as other partners and allies. This attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours.
President Biden has been clear: our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.
Joe Biden cuts short Delaware trip and heads back to White House
Julian Borger
Joe Biden has cut short his weekend at the beach at Rehoboth and is returning to the White House in his Marine One helicopter, which lifted off at 3.36 local time.
Among the aides travelling with the president is Marc Gustafson, the senior director for the White House Situation Room, which is where Biden will be heading as he touches down.
According to the White House, the president will be joined in the situation room by the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Charles Brown, the CIA director William Burns, the director of national intelligence, Avril Haines and the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.
Meanwhile, the head of US Central Command, Gen Erik Kurilla, who has been in Israel for the past two days coordinating and rehearsing responses with Israeli defence leaders, is reported to have flown out.
Much of the Biden administration’s diplomatic focus since the Gaza war broke out has been on preventing a broader regional conflict. That effort is now at its most precarious point.
Benjamin Netanyahu: ‘Whoever harms us, we will harm them’
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released the following statement on Saturday evening amid Iran’s launch of drones towards Israel:
In recent years, and especially in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for a direct attack by Iran.
Our defensive systems are 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.
We have determined a clear principle: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will defend ourselves against any threat and will do so level-headedly and with determination.
Citizens of Israel, I know that you also are also level-headed. I call on you to follow the directives of IDF Home Front Command.
Together we will stand and with God’s help – together we will overcome all of our enemies.”
Iran has launched an ‘unmanned aerial vehicle’ towards Israel, according to the Israeli military.
In a statement released minutes ago on X, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari wrote:
A short time ago, Iran launched an unmanned aerial vehicle from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel. The IDF is on high alert and forms a situation picture at all times. The air defense system is on high alert at the same time as the Air Force planes and Navy ships that are on a mission to protect the country’s skies. The IDF is monitoring all the targets.
לפני זמן קצר איראן שיגרה כלי טיס בלתי מאויישים משטחה לעבר שטח מדינת ישראל.
צה”ל נמצא בכוננות גבוהה ומגבש תמונת מצב בכל עת. מערך ההגנה האווירית נמצא בכוננות גבוהה במקביל למטוסי חיל האוויר וספינות חיל הים שנמצאים במשימת הגנה על שמי המדינה.
צה”ל במעקב אחר כלל המטרות.אנו מבקשים…
— דובר צה״ל דניאל הגרי – Daniel Hagari (@IDFSpokesperson) April 13, 2024
Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 TV news reported that Iran has launched dozens of UAVs at Israel and that their flight time was expected to take hours, Reuters reports.
Two Iraqi security officials have also told Reuters that dozens of drones were spotted flying from Iran in the direction of Israel over Iraqi airspace. Iraq has shut down its airspace and ceased all air traffic, according to Iraq’s transportation ministry, Reuters reports.
The reported attacks come nearly two weeks after Israel killed an Iranian top commander during a bombing on Iran’s consulate in Damascus.
Iran launches drones towards Israel, says IDF
Bethan McKernan
Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, has said that Iran has launched dozens of drones towards Israel, a development that brings the two countries to the brink of all-out conflict after more than a decade of shadow war and soaring tensions in the wake of 7 October and Israel’s war in Gaza.
The drones are “hours away” from reaching Israeli soil, officials told local media on Saturday night. Israel’s forces have been on high alert for days for the possibility of a direct attack launched by Tehran, and jets could be heard roaring across the north of the country after the announcement. Israel’s sophisticated Iron Dome air defence system is expected to be able to intercept Shahed drones, which fly at around 150km/hour.
Rumours swirled for several hours before Hagari’s statement at 11pm local time (9pm BST) about Iran’s threatened retaliation for the 1 April killing of Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, in a strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in the Syrian capital of Damascus for which Tehran holds Israel responsible.
As several surrounding countries closed their airspaces in anticipation of the attack, Israel announced that schools will be closed for the next two days.
