Watch Live : Iran launches over 100 explosive drones toward Israel in first ever direct attack

13-April-2024- Reuters and Aljazeera

A look at what happened today

  • Air raid sirens are sounding across Israel as Israel’s air defence system actively intercepts incoming Iranian attacks in the skies above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
  • Iran’s mission to the UN says
  • Iran’s mission to the UN says its drone and missile attack on Israel was a response to Israel’s April 1 attack on its embassy in Damascus, Syria and that the “matter can be deemed concluded”.
  • Netanyahu has convened Israel’s war cabinet with military spokesperson Daniel Hagari describing the attack as “a severe and dangerous escalation”.
  • US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson says President Biden is being “regularly updated” and that Iran’s “attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours”.
  • The drone attacks were reported on Saturday night shortly after Hamas said it had handed its response for a ceasefire proposal in Gaza to mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
  • Iran’s mission to the UN says its drone and missile attack on Israel was a response to Israel’s April 1 attack on its embassy in Damascus, Syria and that the “matter can be deemed concluded”.
  • Netanyahu has convened Israel’s war cabinet with military spokesperson Daniel Hagari describing the attack as “a severe and dangerous escalation”.
  • US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson says President Biden is being “regularly updated” and that Iran’s “attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours”.
  • The drone attacks were reported on Saturday night shortly after Hamas said it had handed its response for a ceasefire proposal in Gaza to mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
  • Iran’s UN mission says its attack, in response to an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, is “concluded”, warns Israel against retaliation.
  • The Israeli army says Iran has launched several drones against Israeli territory, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it also launched missiles against Israel.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps says in a statement that it has begun an attack on Israel using “dozens of drones and missiles”.

Iran’s mission to UN says its ‘military action’ against Israel is ‘concluded,’ warns US to stay out

Iran’s mission to the UN says that it views its attack on Israel as “concluded,” and warns the US to stay out of the conflict.

In a post on X, Tehran says that its “military action” came in response to Israel’s “aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus.”

“The matter can be deemed concluded,” the post adds. “However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the

Tehran fires ballistic missiles at targets inside Israel: Report

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, quoting an informed source, reports that a batch of ballistic missiles was launched towards targets in Israel.

Iran has launched cruise missiles at Israel: Israeli media

Israel’s Channel 12 reports that cruise missiles have now been launched and that they have a shorter flight time than drones.

The channel also states that a third wave of Iranian drones has been launched towards Israel.

Sunak condemns Iran’s attack against Israel

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned Iran’s attack on Israel as “reckless”, adding that the UK would “continue to stand up for Israel’s security”.

“Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed,” Sunak said in a statement.

The malicious Zionist regime will be punished’: Khamenei

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made the statement in a post on X alongside a video in which he stated that the Israeli “regime” is all “malice, evil and error”.

US National Security Council says attack on Israel will unfold over several hours

NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson says: “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.

“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 defence against these threats from Iran”

Jordanian jets shoot down dozens of Iranian drones flying towards Israel: Report

Reuters, citing two “regional security sources”, reports that Jordanian jets have downed dozens of Iranian drones flying across northern and central Jordan heading to Israel.

The sources said the drones were brought down in the air on the Jordanian side of the Jordan Valley and were heading in the direction of Jerusalem.

Others were intercepted close to the Iraqi-Syrian border. They gave no further details.

America supports Israel’: Trump

The former US president has hit out at Biden over the Iranian attack on Israel.

“ISRAEL IS UNDER ATTACK! This should never have been allowed to happen – This would NEVER have happened if I were President!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Israeli military instructs residents of high-risk areas to stay close to bomb shelters

The military issued a warning that residents of the occupied Golan Heights, Nevatim, Dimona and Eilat stay “near protective spaces until further notice”.

Nevatim is the site of an Israeli air base. Israel has a nuclear reactor on the outskirts of Dimona. Eilat is Israel’s southern Red Sea port, which has come under repeated attack by Yemen’s Houthis

UK calls on Iranian regime to stop this serious escalation’

The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called Iran’s attack on Israel, in which it launched dozens of drones and missiles, “reckless” in a post on X.

High alert

Israel has been on heightened alert since its strike on Damascus on April 1, even though it did not comment on that attack. Iran pledged revenge and a retaliatory attack had been expected.

In a statement to the Israeli people on Saturday night, Mr Netanyahu said: “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

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-attack-israel-drones-latest-b2528354.html

Iran has launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel, the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed, after Israel said Tehran had begun attacks.

The IRGC said on Saturday that it had released the drones and missiles under the operation “True Promise”, adding that the move was part of the punishment for “Israeli crimes