Iran has fired dozens of drones at Israel, Israel's military says, according to Reuters. According to the military, it is expected to take hours for the drones to arrive, and aircraft alarms will sound over areas of Israel that are under threat. Israel has also closed its airspace.
The attack has also been confirmed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which also claims to have fired robots, writes Reuters.
According to Reuters, drones have been seen passing over the Iraqi province of Sulaymanya. At 11 p.m., information came that some drones had been shot down over Syria and Jordan.
Just before 10 p.m., Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is prepared for a "direct attack from Iran." He also said that Israel has the support of the United States and "several countries". The White House announces that President Joe Biden will meet with his security advisers regarding the attack.
In Israel's Channel 12, retired general Amos Yadlin says the drones are equipped with 20 kilograms of explosives each and that Israeli air defenses are ready to shoot them down.
Earlier in the evening, the Israeli military went on high alert. The country also keeps schools closed.
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Israel closes airspace and evacuates military bases
Israel has decided to close its airspace, evacuate some of the country's military bases and send fighter jets into the air after Iran fired drones and cruise missiles at the country, writes the New York Times.
Jordan, which borders Israel, and Iraq have also decided to close their airspace.
"The decision has been taken to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Jordanian airspace," Jordanian authorities write in a statement according to the Al-Mamlaka news channel.
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US: Will support Israel's defense against Iran
The United States will support Israel's defense against Iranian airstrikes, the White House announced after Iran launched a drone strike against Israel, according to the AP.
“This attack is likely to last for a number of hours. The United States will stand with the Israeli people," writes National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson in a statement.
The White House also states that President Joe Biden is continuously updated on developments and is in constant communication with the Israeli government and other allies.
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Sources: Only military targets are expected - no civilian or religious sites
The
Iranian attacks on Israel are only expected to be directed at military
targets, an Israeli military source told ABC News. According to Israeli
information to the New York Times, the Golan Heights and an air base in
the Negev desert are among the targets.
A source within Joe
Biden's administration provides similar information to NBC News, saying
that government buildings may be targeted but that no civilian or
religious sites are expected to be targeted in the attacks.
Iran
has confirmed during the evening that it fired drones, cruise missiles
and ballistic missiles at Israel. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard says
on state television that the operation is called "True Promise" and
should be seen as a revenge action against Israel.
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US President Joe Biden.
Analysis: Extremely dangerous - warnings have not helped
Iran's major drone attack against Israel makes the situation in the Middle East very dangerous, writes Sky News correspondent Alex Rossi in an analysis. What will happen now is, according to him, very difficult to predict, but there is a risk that attacks will set off a chain of events leading to full-scale war, where the US has promised to defend Israel.
"They have said that in an attempt to get Iran to refrain from attacking, but it doesn't seem to have helped," he writes.
SVT's correspondent Samir Abu Eid says that it has been nervous and tense in Israel in recent days. He says that Israel has a very strong air defense that can probably repel a first wave.
- But the question is whether this is the attack or whether it is the beginning of a more massive attack, he says.
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Reactions to Iran's attack
West condemns: "Nobody wants to see more bloodshed"
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemns Iran's drone and robot attack on Israel as "reckless" and vows that Britain will continue to stand up for Israel's security.
"Together with our allies, we are working urgently to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed," writes Sunak in a statement.
The US also promises to "stand by the Israeli people" and support Israel's military defense against Iran's attack.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell says the attacks represent an "unprecedented escalation" and a serious threat to regional security.
"The EU strongly condemns the unacceptable Iranian attack on Israel," he writes on X.
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