Israel warned that the drones would take many hours to reach its airspace. The raids came over two weeks after an Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria, which killed seven IRGC personnel.
“We launched an operation using drones and missiles in response to the Zionist entity’s crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Syria,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement
“The operation was carried out with dozens of missiles and drones to strike specific targets in the occupied territories.”
In a televised statement on Saturday, Israel’s army spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, stated that “Iran launched UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel.”
“This is a serious and dangerous escalation. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at peak preparedness ahead of Iran’s large-scale strike.”
Israel is on High alert
Israel has been on high alert since its strike on Damascus on April 1, while not commenting on the incident. Iran promised retaliation, and a retaliatory assault was expected.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel was prepared for a “direct attack from Iran”.
Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant stated that Israel is “closely monitoring a planned attack” against it by Iran and its regional allies.
US President Joe Biden, who urged Iran on Friday not to attack Israel after suggesting such a scenario was close, has committed to stand with Israel against Iran, according to the White House.
According to US National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson, Biden’s national security staff keeps him updated on a regular basis and he is in close touch with Israeli authorities, US partners, and allies.
Syria has also put its Russian-made Pantsir ground-to-air defence systems surrounding Damascus and important bases on high alert in case of an Israeli strike, according to army sources.
Meanwhile, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel stated that they had temporarily blocked their airspace.
‘A country waits’
Amos Yadlin, a retired Israeli commander, told Channel 12 that the Iranian drones were each packed with 20 kg (44 pounds) of explosives.
Israel’s military said sirens will ring in any affected regions, and its defenses were ready to deal with them.
“We know that planes are patrolling the skies above [Israel], and that Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with his war and security cabinets this evening,” Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands said from occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is a country.” “We’re waiting for the drones to arrive,” he continued.
According to Challands, Haggari did not specify the duration of the flight, but it would require passing through other nations’ airspace. They might take almost nine hours to arrive.”
Israel’s seven-month assault on Gaza has heightened regional tensions, spilling over to Lebanon and Syria and drawing long-range fire from Yemen and Iraq.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian marines captured a container ship belonging to Israel near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iqra Khan