Iran has sent multiple drones in the direction of Israel, as confirmed by the Israeli military, US authorities, and Iranian state media reports. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, estimated a few hours for the drones to reach their destination when he addressed the situation on a Saturday night. He stated that Israel was ready for any eventuality.
The advanced Iron Dome air defence system of Israel is predicted to have the capacity to intercept Shahed-class drones that travel at roughly 150km per hour. However, the New York Times quoted US officials suggesting that slower drones might be accompanied by speedier missiles to distract the defence systems.
The Israeli nation has been on increased alert since two Iranian generals were assassinated in an air strike in Syria the previous week. The Iranian embassy in Damascus was also a victim of the attack. Iran held Israel accountable for the attack and pledged retaliation. Israel, on the other hand, refrained from commenting on the assault.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced via Iranian state media on a Saturday that it had targeted specific locations in Israel with an array of drones and missiles. To counter the aggression, both Israel and Iraq, which is situated between the two nations, have restricted their airspaces. The missiles were launched from multiple directions, the Revolutionary Guard stated in its proclamation.
The Iranian military faction noted that the attacks were in retaliation for the offences committed by the “Zionist regime”, including the assault on Iran’s embassy consulate in Damascus and the assassination of Iranian commanders and military advisors in Syria.
Several countries have issued travel advisories for the region in recent days, while the US embassy in Israel has requested its personnel remain within the main urban centres.
Despite the mounting pressure, Iranian insiders informed Reuters earlier that Tehran had indirectly communicated to the White House, assuring that they would not resort to any abrupt actions that could potentially escalate the situation. Yet, US president Joe Biden announced on a Friday that he anticipated an imminent Iranian assault on Israel and attempted to dissuade Tehran from such actions, emphasising America’s commitment to stand by Israel.
The US president stated to the press, “We are unwavering in our commitment to Israel’s defence. We stand with Israel, we will aid in its protection, and Iran shall not prevail.”
It is to be noted that Israel has been in conflict with Hamas since the Islamist organisation governing the Gaza Strip launched an assault on Israeli territory in October 2023 that ended in thousands of casualties and the abduction of hostages from border towns and villages.
The Israeli incursion has resulted in the demise of over 30,000 Gazans according to reports, with significant destruction of infrastructure and houses in Palestinian territories. The Israeli Defence Forces claim this action aims to prevent Hamas from initiating similar assaults in the future.
The conflict has occasionally overflowed beyond the borders of Israel and Gaza, with Hizbullah, a Shia militia, instigating rocket attacks from Lebanon. Disruption in the Suez canal due to a group called Ansar Allah, also recognised as the Houthis, has been noted as well.
As regional tensions escalate, Israel has carried out strikes on objectives in both Lebanon and Syria. This information has been supplemented by reports from AP, The Guardian, and The New York Times.