Iran has launched its retaliatory attack against Israel by sending several drones against the country, the Israeli army (IDF) reports.
Sunday 14 April at 00:02
The attack started on Saturday evening, says IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari, according to the Reuters news agency.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirms to state media that it has fired a dozen drones and missiles at “specific targets” in Israel.
Israel estimates that there are more than 100 drones, writes CNN.
According to Hagari, it will take several hours before the drones reach Israel. He says that the country’s defense is prepared for what he refers to as a “serious and dangerous escalation”.
Pictures circulating on social media on Saturday evening which claim to show attack drones on their way from Iran towards Israel. Here from Karbala in Iraq. Photo: Social Media
– We ask the public to listen and follow the instructions from the authorities and the IDF.
The Israeli army states that it is continuously monitoring the situation. On X, videos of what is supposed to be the attack are circulating.
USA: Will support Israel’s defense
After the start of Iran’s attack on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning:
– Whoever harms us, we will harm, says Netanyahu, who is sitting in a meeting with his war cabinet on Saturday evening:
Photo: Prime Minister’s Office in Israel
The United States is also following the situation. President Joe Biden has rushed back to the White House after a trip to Delaware, and is due to meet with the country’s National Security Council in the Oval Office.
– The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran, says spokeswoman for the US National Security Council Adrienne Watson late Saturday night.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January. Photo: RONEN ZVULUN / POOL / REUTERS POOL
Background: That’s why they’re attacking now
Earlier this month, seven members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard were killed in an attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, which Israel has been accused of being behind.
A senior Iranian general was killed. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but the US Department of Defense has has said the attack was Israeli.
Israel has been on full alert, and all schools in the country are closed. Similar measures have not been used by Israel since the festival attack last year.
A ship was boarded by Iranian special forces in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. British military officials reported the attack and said “regional authorities” were behind the hijacking, which took place outside Fujairah.
Researcher: Could be dangerous for Israel
Middle East researcher Dag Tuastad emphasizes that the attack from Iran is expected, and that the question now is whether this marking is sufficient for Iran and Israel.
– If Israel attacks Iran again after this response, it will be a dangerous development in the war. Then Iran will press the “Hezbollah button”, and then we are talking about huge quantities of rockets that will be sent towards Israel, says the researcher.
Also read: Middle East researcher: – Could be more dangerous for Israel than anything they have faced since 1948
<-Day Henrik Tuastad
Senior lecturer in Middle Eastern studies at UIO
Several countries have closed the airspace
Lebanon will also temporarily close its airspace from 01:00 on Sunday night until 07:00 on Sunday morning, reports the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Iraqi airspace is also closed, according to the country’s Ministry of Transport, according to the Reuters news agency.
On Saturday evening, the state reported Al Mamlaka TV channel that Jordan also closes its airspace from midnight Saturday, local time. However, the country’s transport minister says that this is not true, writes Reuters.
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2024-04-13 20:37:13
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