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
Jordan declares state of emergency
Gloria Oladipo
Jordan declared a state of emergency amid Iran’s drone attacks on Israel, Reuters reported, citing state media.
Two regional security sources told Reuters earlier that the country’s air defenses are prepared to intercept and shoot down any Iranian drones that enter its air space.
The sources said that Jordan’s army is also on high alert and its radar systems are monitoring for drone activity.
All schools in Israel will be closed and gatherings of more than 1,000 people will be limited from now until at least 11pm on Monday, the Israeli military has said in a post on Telegram.
Meanwhile, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said:
In accordance with the situational assessment and in light of the security situation, the Home Front Command is issuing updates and adjustments to the defensive guidelines at this time – starting tomorrow morning and over the coming days, educational establishments, day camps, and planned trips will not take place.”
Joe Biden arrives at White House
Joe Biden’s motorcade arrived back at the White House at 5.02pm, according to the White House pool report.
He walked into the Oval Office and the pool was too far away to shout questions.
Iran supreme leader Ali Khamenei: ‘The malicious Zionist regime will be punished’
Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei has vowed that Israel’s “malicious Zionist regime will be punished” following Iran’s launch of drone attacks against Israel.
In a video on X, Khamenei said:
The malicious regime itself, which is all malice, evil and error, added another mistake to its own errors by launching an attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
The consulate and embassy offices in any country where they exist are regarded as the soil of the country to which the embassy belongs. Attacking our consulate is like attacking our soil …
The malicious regime has made a wrong move in this case. It should be punished and it will be punished.
Donna Ferguson
Jordan’s air defence is ready to shoot down any Iranian aircraft that violates its airspace, Reuters reports.
Two regional security sources have said the army was also in a state of high alert and radar systems were monitoring drone activity.
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 3.36pm 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 by Lloyd Austin, the defence secretary; Antony Blinken, the secretary of state; Gen Charles Brown, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff; William Burns, the CIA director; Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence; and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser.
Meanwhile, Gen Erik Kurilla, the head of US Central Command, 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’
The Israeli prime minister 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.