Iran has launched a salvo of drones at Israel, the Israeli military has said late Saturday night.
Iran has also launched missiles at Israel, its Revolutionary Guards has said.
In a statement, the branch of the Iranian Armed Forces said it has targeted specific places in Israel with dozens of drones and missiles.
But, there is no information indicating that ballistic missiles were launched from Iran at Israel, Israeli officials tell Hebrew-language media.
Israel plans a “significant response” to the Iranian drone attack against it, Israel’s Channel 12 TV quoted an unnamed senior Israeli official as saying early on Sunday
Earlier, a source told Iran’s state news agency that Tehran had launched its first wave of ballistic missiles against Israel. Such missiles should take around 11-12 minutes to reach Israel, according to security sources.
The Israeli military confirmed a salvo of drones had been launched from the country and could take “several hours” to arrive.
Israeli media has reported the drones could start arriving at around 2am local time (12am UK time) but the missiles could arrive sooner.
U.S. and British jets downed Iranian drones over the Iraq-Syria border
U.S. and British warplanes have downed some Israel-bound Iranian drones over the Iraq-Syria border area, Israel’s Channel 12 TV reported without citing sources.
Drones seen flying from direction of Iran over Iraq’s Sulaymaniya
A number of drones were seen flying from the direction of Iran over Iraq’s Sulaymaniya province, three security sources told Reuters on Saturday.
“Dozens of drones were spotted flying from Iran in the direction of Israel over Iraqi airspace,” two Iraqi security sources also told Reuters.
Iraq also announced shutting down its airspace and suspending all air traffic on Saturday, Iraq’s transport ministry told the country’s state-owned news agency.
Delivering a televised statement, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari says Israel is “well-prepared” for the attack.
“We have prepared for diverse scenarios in advance. In order to intercept these launches, we have the circles of protection from both the navy and the air force on several layers,” he adds.
He explains that the unmanned aircraft will take “several hours” to reach Israel, and sirens will sound if any areas are under threat.
“We are going to try to prevent them from reaching Israeli territory, that is our task,” he says.
“If they do enter Israeli airspace, then you will hear sirens and alarms wherever these threats enter and we will intercept them.”
Israel has been on heightened alert since an airstrike last week killed two Iranian generals in Syria.
Israel’s airspace will be closed to all flights ahead of the impending Iranian drone strike, the country’s aviation authorities have said.
It comes as Israeli media reports the drones are expected to arrive at 2am local time (12am UK time).
A number of drones have been seen flying from the direction of Iran over Iraq’s Sulaymaniya province, three security sources have told Reuters.
Iraq has also announced it is shutting down its airspace and suspending all air traffic.
US expecting Iran to launch more than 100 drones, dozens missiles
Now that Iran has begun its retaliation against Israel, the US is bracing for this to be “a major attack”, two senior American officials have said.
Speaking to NBC News, the unnamed officials said the Biden administration is expecting Iran to launch more than 100 drones, dozens of cruise missiles and dozens of ballistic missiles.
One of the officials said the weapons were expected to target Israeli government sites, not civilians or religious sites.
The US and Israel have been closely coordinating how to defend against the attack
“Were ready. The Israelis are ready,” the official said.
US CENTCOM commander General Michael Kurillla has been meeting senior Israeli officials for the past several days.
During his visit, he consulted with the Israelis on a defence plan which includes US help from the sea and air, as well as how Israel might respond to Iran’s attack, the senior American officials said.
The administration was not expecting Iran to target any US assets in the region, they added.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that a Guards helicopter had boarded and taken into Iranian waters the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries.
MSC, which operates the Aries, confirmed that Iran had seized the ship and said it was working “with the relevant authorities” for its safe return and the wellbeing of its 25 crew.
MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac said in a statement, adding that MSC is responsible for all the vessel’s activities. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of piracy.
Israel’s El Al airlines has cancelled international flights over the weekend
Israel El Al Airlines has cancelled 15 flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, the carrier said on Saturday as hostilities with Iran surged and Israel closed its airspace as a precaution.
Foreign destinations affected include Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Bucharest, Sofia, Athens, Dubai and Moscow, the El Al statement said.
