2024-04-13 23:36:55
- Hezbollah launched a ground operation against Israel
- The Pentagon has been notified of the attack. Iranian drones are intercepted by American, Jordanian, British and Israeli militaries
- The US will support Israel, announced President Biden. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also condemned the attack
- Iran also threatens countries that open their airspace to the Israeli military with an attack
- Queues formed in front of Israeli gas stations minutes after the attack was announced
Iran is attacking Israel, the Israeli military says.
Iran launched 50 “Shahed” military drones at various parts of Israel shortly after 11:00 PM Bulgarian time on Saturday night. The war machines are moving very slowly and are expected to strike in the next few hours. In addition to drones, Iran has also launched cruise missiles.
According to the calculations of the Israeli military, more than 100 drones and missiles are already flying towards the country. Some of them were struck in the airspace over Syria and Jordan, the Israel Defense Forces said, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post.
“The evil Zionist regime will be punished,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on his account on the X social network, confirming the attack. This was later reported by the Iranian state television.
The malicious Zionist regime will be punished pic.twitter.com/2miQi2JoiI
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 13, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened his military cabinet, his press office announced. He has gathered the employees at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, writes “Sky News”.
“Whoever hurts us, we will hurt him back,” Netanyahu warned earlier today.
“In recent years, but especially in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for a direct attack from Iran. All our defense systems are activated. We are ready for all scenarios – both defensive and offensive. Israel is strong. The Israeli army is strong. The Israeli people are strong,” Netanyahu added in his statement.
“We have a clear principle – whoever hurt us, we will hurt him back. We will defend ourselves against any threat,” he added.
Earlier today, Jordan closed its airspace. International media are now reporting that the country has given access to the Israeli Air Force, which began intercepting Iran’s drones minutes after midnight. Iranian drones are also repulsed by American, British and Jordanian warplanes.
The Pentagon has been notified of the attack.
Any country that opens its airspace to Israel will meet our response, Iranian officials have threatened, CNN reports.
Meanwhile, Lebanon closed its airspace. And the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency banned Russian airlines from using the airspace of Iraq and Israel until 07:00 Moscow time on April 14, TASS reported.
Iran Has finally Attacked Isreal. The war has been began which can easily turn into WWIII. I hope everyone remains safe 🕊️pic.twitter.com/pdJlxrSQv8
— Shaani (@_simpli_shani) April 13, 2024
Military tensions in the Middle East have risen sharply since a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy compound in the Syrian capital of Damascus in early April, which killed two brigadier generals. And the state leadership in Tehran threatened to strike back.
Simultaneously with Iran’s air attack, Hezbollah announced the start of a ground operation against Israel. The pro-Iranian group, as well as the Hashd al-Shaabi movement, began firing rockets at Israel, and as of 11:20 p.m. on Saturday, there were up to 200 drones and rockets in the air. In practice, Israel is attacked from the territory of Iran, “Hezbollah” from Lebanon, the Houthis from Yemen, groups from Syria and Hashd al-Shaabi, which operates in Iraq.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among the first to categorically condemn Iran’s attack on Israel. In a statement published on his account on the social network Ex, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom wrote that the Iranian attack with drones and missiles was reckless and the United Kingdom will continue to protect the security of Israel.
Iran’s attack on Israel will only further exacerbate tensions in the Middle East, warned UK Foreign Minister David Cameron. In his post on the Ex social network, he reiterated the UK’s call for Iran to stop escalating tensions.
Read my statement on the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. pic.twitter.com/xeuR3cd3kG
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 13, 2024
“The United States will support the people of Israel,” the US National Security Council said in a statement.
“Iran has launched an airstrike against Israel. The national security team regularly briefs President Biden on the situation and will meet with him today at the White House. Biden’s team is in constant contact with Israeli officials as well as other partners and allies .
“President Biden is adamant that our support for Israel’s security is unwavering. The United States will stand by the people of Israel and support its defense against these threats from Iran,” said a statement from US National Security Council spokesman Adrien Watson, quoted by the Guardian.
Again on social media, a Bulgarian woman living in Israel reported that drones and planes could be heard flying over, and that the country’s airspace would be closed to civilian flights.
About queues at gas stations in Israel minutes after the attack became known, another Bulgarian – Emil Georgiev, reports again on the “X” social network.
🚨BREAKING: ISRAEL UNDER ATTACK.
A new batch of drones has reportedly been launched from Iran towards occupied Palestine.
Israeli channel 12: The Iranian drones are expected to reach their targets at 2:00 am if they are not downed.
Zionist sources report that cruise missiles… pic.twitter.com/63KdKCb1t3
— Suppressed News (@SuppressedNws) April 13, 2024
Stay tuned for details!
BREAKING WW3 RED ALERT!!! 🚨🚨🚨⚠️⚠️⚠️
IRAN HAS JUST LAUNCHED A BARRAGE OF HUNDREDS OF CRUISE MISSILES AND DRONES INTO ISRAEL!
The United States is reportedly sending fighter jets over to Israel. This will provoke Iran to attack US. IF that happens RUSSIA, and CHINA will step… pic.twitter.com/iMDBAluxZS
— The Patriot Voice (@TPV_John) April 13, 2024