Israel is defending its airspace against Iranian drones and missiles, launched in what Tehran has called as a retaliatory strike.
RAF planes were also involved in the defence of Israel on Saturday evening, Sky News understands, though believed to have been used in a support capacity, while US planes reportedly downed Iranian drones over northern Syria.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency war cabinet to discuss the situation late on Saturday night, while, in Washington, US President Joe Biden also held an emergency meeting with top security officials.
In a statement following the meeting, Mr Biden reaffirmed the US’s “ironclad” commitment to “Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies”.
Across Israel, the military sounded sirens in multiple locations in southern areas as well as in parts of the occupied West Bank, an alert app showed.
Sky News international correspondent Alex Rossi, in Jerusalem, said he had heard “explosions” and seen “what look like air defence interception systems”.
Objects are seen in the sky above Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel in Jerusalem
Interceptor missiles are launched into the sky in Jerusalem
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it was responding to an “attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus” on 1 April.
Two generals and seven members of the IRG were killed in the strike, which Tehran blamed on Israel. Israel has not publicly commented.
However, early on Sunday morning, a senior Israeli source told Channel 12 TV that the country was planning a “significant response” to the Iranian drone salvo.
Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran would “not hesitate” to take “further defensive measures” to “safeguard its legitimate interests against any military aggressions”.
An airstrike destroyed the consular section of Iran’s embassy in Damascus, killing or wounding a number of Iranian commanders earlier this month. Pic: AP
Air sirens sound in Israel
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said an Iranian attack had begun, as did the White House.
People in the Golan Heights, Nevatim, Dimona and Eilat were advised to prepare to take shelter.
More than 200 explosive drones were launched by Tehran, while 10 cruise missiles were intercepted outside Israel’s borders, according to the IDF.
US officials predicted that Iran would launch more than 100 drones, dozens of cruise missiles, and dozens of ballistic missiles.
US President Joe Biden meets with members of the National Security team. Pic: White House via AP
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said Tehran had fired ballistic missiles at targets inside Israel.
According to Israeli media, however, Israeli officials said there was no indication ballistic missiles had been launched.
Drones were seen flying from Iran, through Iraqi airspace and in the direction of Israel, two Iraqi security sources told Reuters.
The drones are carrying 20kg of explosives each, Amos Yadlin, a retired general in the Israeli air force, told Channel 12 TV.
An Iranian drone. File pic
‘Attack further undermines regional security’
US and British warplanes have already downed some Israel-bound Iranian drones over the Iraq-Syria border area, Channel 12 added, without citing sources.
The involvement of British jets was later confirmed to Sky News by UK officials.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement that additional RAF jets and air refuelling tankers had also been deployed to the region to “bolster” Operation Shader – the UK’s existing counter-IS operation in Iraq and Syria.
“In addition, the jets will intercept airborne attacks within range of our existing missions,” he said.
“I strongly condemn the senseless airborne attack that Iran has launched on Israel. It serves no benefit other than to further undermine regional security.”
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Jets from Jordan are also thought to have shot down Iranian drones flying across their airspace towards Israel, security sources have told the news agency Reuters – despite Tehran issuing an earlier warning to the country not to interfere with their strikes.
Israeli aviation authorities said the country’s airspace was being closed to all flights.
Wing of Zion – Israel’s version of Air Force One – is airborne because of “operational considerations”.
‘Reckless attack’
Earlier, Israel called off school trips and other youth activities planned for the coming days.
Jordan said it was temporarily closing its airspace, state media reported.
Egypt said its air defences were on alert.
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Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, said he condemned “in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel”.
He added: “Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard.
“The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “We condemn the Iranian regime’s decision to subject Israelis to these unacceptable attacks.
“The international community has been united in urging restraint, and we regret that, yet again, Iran has chosen a different, dangerous path.”
Saudi Arabia also called on all parties to exercise the “utmost levels” of restraint and to spare the region and its people the dangers of war, while UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres also urged “maximum restraint”.
