Booms and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem early Sunday after Iran launched dozens of drones and ballistic missiles towards Israel in an unprecedented revenge mission that pushed the Middle East ever nearer to a regionwide conflict.The assault marked the primary time Iran has launched a direct army assault on Israel, regardless of many years of enmity relationship again to the nation’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Condemnation was swift, with France saying that “Iran has crossed a brand new threshold with regard to its destabilizing actions and is risking a possible army escalation.” Britain known as the assaults “reckless.”There was no fast phrase from authorities on whether or not any explosions have been an incoming assault. Air raid sirens have been reported in quite a few locations, together with northern Israel, southern Israel, the northern West Bank and the Dead Sea close to the Jordanian border. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service mentioned it was treating a 10-year-old boy in crucial situation within the Bedouin space within the Arad area however supplied no particulars.In the video participant above: Explosions and sirens heard and seen as intercepts happen within the skies of Jerusalem early Sunday morning.U.S. forces downed a few of the Iran-launched drones flying towards Israel, in accordance with a U.S. protection official and two U.S. officers who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate the matter. The protection official mentioned the trouble to intercept the assault was ongoing.Israel’s army mentioned over 100 drones had been fired. It did not point out ballistic missiles, that are much less simply shot down, however Iran mentioned they have been a part of the assault.“We are monitoring the menace,” the Israeli army’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, introduced in a nationwide tv deal with.Iran had vowed revenge since an April 1 airstrike in Syria killed two Iranian generals inside an Iranian consular constructing. Iran accused Israel of being behind the assault. Israel hasn’t commented on it.Israel and Iran have been on a collision course all through Israel’s six-month conflict in opposition to Hamas militants within the Gaza Strip. The conflict erupted after Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant teams backed by Iran, carried out a devastating cross-border assault on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 folks in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. An Israeli offensive in Gaza has triggered widespread devastation and killed over 33,000 folks, in accordance with native well being officers.Almost instantly after the conflict erupted, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon, started attacking Israel’s northern border. The two sides have been concerned in each day exchanges of fireside, whereas Iranian-backed teams in Iraq, Syria and Yemen have launched rockets and missiles towards Israel.In a press release carried late Saturday by Iran’s state-run IRNA information company, the nation’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard acknowledged launching “dozens of drones and missiles in the direction of the occupied territories and positions of the Zionist regime.”In a later assertion, the Revolutionary Guard issued a direct warning to the U.S.: “The terrorist U.S. authorities is warned any assist or participation in harming Iran’s pursuits shall be adopted by decisive and regretting response by Iran’s armed forces.”IRNA additionally quoted an nameless official saying ballistic missiles have been a part of the assault. A ballistic missile strikes on an arch trajectory, heading up into area earlier than gravity brings the weapon down at a velocity a number of instances quicker than the velocity of sound.Israel has missile protection methods able to focusing on ballistic missiles. However, in a large assault involving a number of drones and missiles, the chance of a strike making it by way of is greater.Iran has an enormous arsenal of drones and missiles. Online movies shared by Iranian state tv purported to point out delta-wing-style drones resembling the Iranian Shahed-136s lengthy utilized by Russia in its conflict on Ukraine. The slow-flying drones carry bombs. Ukraine has efficiently used each surface-to-air missiles and floor hearth to focus on them.Israel has a multilayered air-defense community that features methods able to intercepting a wide range of threats together with long-range missiles, cruise missiles, drones and short-range rockets.Hagari, the military spokesman, mentioned Israel was “ready and prepared.” But he cautioned that the air defenses should not 100% efficient and urged the general public to heed security directions.The military ordered residents within the Golan Heights — close to the Syrian and Lebanese borders — in addition to the southern cities of Nevatim and Dimona and the Red Sea resort of Eilat “to remain close to protecting areas till additional discover.” Dimona is house to Israel’s essential nuclear facility, and Nevatim has a serious air base.The military’s Home Front Command canceled faculty on Sunday and restricted public gatherings to not more than 1,000 folks. Israel closed its airspace and canceled all flights.Earlier Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned: “Whoever harms us, we’ll hurt them.”In Washington, President Joe Biden reduce brief a weekend journey to his seaside home in Delaware to return to the White House. He was set to convene a principals assembly of the National Security Council on Saturday to debate the unfolding assault, the White House mentioned.“The United States will stand with the folks of Israel and assist their protection in opposition to these threats from Iran,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson mentioned in a press release.Gen. Erik Kurilla, the top of the U.S. army’s Central Command, was in Israel over the weekend consulting with Israeli protection officers concerning the Iranian menace. The Central Command oversees U.S. forces within the Middle East.Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a warning to each Israel and the U.S. “Should the Israeli regime make one other mistake, Iran’s response shall be significantly extra extreme,” it wrote on-line. “It is a battle between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!”For days, Iranian officers together with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had threatened to “slap” Israel for its Syria strike.In Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses noticed lengthy strains at fuel stations early Sunday as folks appeared apprehensive about what could come subsequent. Dozens of hard-liners demonstrated in assist of the assault at Palestine Square.Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported heavy Israeli airstrikes and shelling on a number of areas in south Lebanon following Iran’s launch of drones. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah mentioned it launched “dozens” of Katyusha rockets at an Israeli army web site within the Golan Heights early Sunday. It was not instantly clear if there was any harm.Countries within the area started to shut their airspace.IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD SEIZES A CONTAINER SHIPEarly Saturday, commandos from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard rappelled from a helicopter onto an Israeli-affiliated container ship close to the Strait of Hormuz and seized the vessel.Iran’s state-run IRNA mentioned a particular forces unit of the Guard’s navy carried out the assault on the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, a container ship related to London-based Zodiac Maritime.Zodiac Maritime is a part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. Zodiac declined to remark and referred inquiries to MSC. Geneva-based MSC acknowledged the seizure and mentioned 25 crew members have been on the ship.“We are working carefully with the related authorities to make sure their well-being, and secure return of the vessel,” MSC mentioned.Watson, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, mentioned the crew was made up of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals and urged Iran to launch them and the vessel.IRNA mentioned the Guard would take the vessel into Iranian territorial waters.A Middle East protection official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate intelligence issues, supplied video of the assault to The Associated Press by which Iranian commandos are seen rappelling onto a stack of containers on the vessel’s deck. The video corresponded with identified particulars of the MSC Aries.___Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP correspondents Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, Michael Balsamo in New York, Krutika Pathi in New Delhi, Stephen Graham in Berlin, Thomas Adamson in Paris, and Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
Booms and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem early Sunday after Iran launched dozens of drones and ballistic missiles towards Israel in an unprecedented revenge mission that pushed the Middle East ever nearer to a regionwide conflict.
The assault marked the primary time Iran has launched a direct army assault on Israel, regardless of many years of enmity relationship again to the nation’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Condemnation was swift, with France saying that “Iran has crossed a brand new threshold with regard to its destabilizing actions and is risking a possible army escalation.” Britain known as the assaults “reckless.”
In the video participant above: Explosions and sirens heard and seen as intercepts happen within the skies of Jerusalem early Sunday morning.
U.S. forces downed a few of the Iran-launched drones flying towards Israel, in accordance with a U.S. protection official and two U.S. officers who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate the matter. The protection official mentioned the trouble to intercept the assault was ongoing.
Israel’s army mentioned over 100 drones had been fired. It did not point out ballistic missiles, that are much less simply shot down, however Iran mentioned they have been a part of the assault.
“We are monitoring the menace,” the Israeli army’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, introduced in a nationwide tv deal with.
Iran had vowed revenge since an April 1 airstrike in Syria killed two Iranian generals inside an Iranian consular constructing. Iran accused Israel of being behind the assault. Israel hasn’t commented on it.
Israel and Iran have been on a collision course all through Israel’s six-month conflict in opposition to Hamas militants within the Gaza Strip. The conflict erupted after Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant teams backed by Iran, carried out a devastating cross-border assault on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 folks in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. An Israeli offensive in Gaza has triggered widespread devastation and killed over 33,000 folks, in accordance with native well being officers.
Almost instantly after the conflict erupted, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon, started attacking Israel’s northern border. The two sides have been concerned in each day exchanges of fireside, whereas Iranian-backed teams in Iraq, Syria and Yemen have launched rockets and missiles towards Israel.
In a press release carried late Saturday by Iran’s state-run IRNA information company, the nation’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard acknowledged launching “dozens of drones and missiles in the direction of the occupied territories and positions of the Zionist regime.”
In a later assertion, the Revolutionary Guard issued a direct warning to the U.S.: “The terrorist U.S. authorities is warned any assist or participation in harming Iran’s pursuits shall be adopted by decisive and regretting response by Iran’s armed forces.”
IRNA additionally quoted an nameless official saying ballistic missiles have been a part of the assault. A ballistic missile strikes on an arch trajectory, heading up into area earlier than gravity brings the weapon down at a velocity a number of instances quicker than the velocity of sound.
Israel has missile protection methods able to focusing on ballistic missiles. However, in a large assault involving a number of drones and missiles, the chance of a strike making it by way of is greater.
Iran has an enormous arsenal of drones and missiles. Online movies shared by Iranian state tv purported to point out delta-wing-style drones resembling the Iranian Shahed-136s lengthy utilized by Russia in its conflict on Ukraine. The slow-flying drones carry bombs. Ukraine has efficiently used each surface-to-air missiles and floor hearth to focus on them.
Israel has a multilayered air-defense community that features methods able to intercepting a wide range of threats together with long-range missiles, cruise missiles, drones and short-range rockets.
Hagari, the military spokesman, mentioned Israel was “ready and prepared.” But he cautioned that the air defenses should not 100% efficient and urged the general public to heed security directions.
The military ordered residents within the Golan Heights — close to the Syrian and Lebanese borders — in addition to the southern cities of Nevatim and Dimona and the Red Sea resort of Eilat “to remain close to protecting areas till additional discover.” Dimona is house to Israel’s essential nuclear facility, and Nevatim has a serious air base.
The military’s Home Front Command canceled faculty on Sunday and restricted public gatherings to not more than 1,000 folks. Israel closed its airspace and canceled all flights.
Earlier Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned: “Whoever harms us, we’ll hurt them.”
In Washington, President Joe Biden reduce brief a weekend journey to his seaside home in Delaware to return to the White House. He was set to convene a principals assembly of the National Security Council on Saturday to debate the unfolding assault, the White House mentioned.
“The United States will stand with the folks of Israel and assist their protection in opposition to these threats from Iran,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson mentioned in a press release.
Gen. Erik Kurilla, the top of the U.S. army’s Central Command, was in Israel over the weekend consulting with Israeli protection officers concerning the Iranian menace. The Central Command oversees U.S. forces within the Middle East.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a warning to each Israel and the U.S. “Should the Israeli regime make one other mistake, Iran’s response shall be significantly extra extreme,” it wrote on-line. “It is a battle between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!”
For days, Iranian officers together with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had threatened to “slap” Israel for its Syria strike.
In Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses noticed lengthy strains at fuel stations early Sunday as folks appeared apprehensive about what could come subsequent. Dozens of hard-liners demonstrated in assist of the assault at Palestine Square.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported heavy Israeli airstrikes and shelling on a number of areas in south Lebanon following Iran’s launch of drones. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah mentioned it launched “dozens” of Katyusha rockets at an Israeli army web site within the Golan Heights early Sunday. It was not instantly clear if there was any harm.
Countries within the area started to shut their airspace.
IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD SEIZES A CONTAINER SHIP
Early Saturday, commandos from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard rappelled from a helicopter onto an Israeli-affiliated container ship close to the Strait of Hormuz and seized the vessel.
Iran’s state-run IRNA mentioned a particular forces unit of the Guard’s navy carried out the assault on the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, a container ship related to London-based Zodiac Maritime.
Zodiac Maritime is a part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. Zodiac declined to remark and referred inquiries to MSC. Geneva-based MSC acknowledged the seizure and mentioned 25 crew members have been on the ship.
Watson, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, mentioned the crew was made up of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals and urged Iran to launch them and the vessel.
IRNA mentioned the Guard would take the vessel into Iranian territorial waters.
A Middle East protection official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate intelligence issues, supplied video of the assault to The Associated Press by which Iranian commandos are seen rappelling onto a stack of containers on the vessel’s deck. The video corresponded with identified particulars of the MSC Aries.
___
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP correspondents Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, Michael Balsamo in New York, Krutika Pathi in New Delhi, Stephen Graham in Berlin, Thomas Adamson in Paris, and Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.