( Jpost )
Sirens blared across Israel on Saturday night as hundreds of drones and missiles launched from Iran reached Israel. Drones and missiles were also reportedly launched from Yemen and other countries around the region.
A ten-year-old girl from a Bedouin village near Arad was seriously wounded by the Iranian attack, according to Magen David Adom. "We met a private car carrying the unconscious 10-year-old boy with a shrapnel wound to his head near the entrance to Arad. We provided him with life-saving medical care and evacuated him to the hospital in serious condition," said MDA paramedic Zohar Sarbintsky.
Defense sources have confirmed aerial defenses were very successful, shooting down dozens of Iranian aerial threats. The limited Iranian successful hits so far have been minor and are mostly under gag order. Almost all interceptions have been by aircraft, David's Sling, or the Arrow missile systems. The Iron Dome, which defends well against Hamas and Hezbollah's simple rockets, is less relevant for drones and fancier long range missiles.
Iran confirmed as well that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had launched a missile and drone attack against Israel. Despite the injury of civilians, Iran's Foreign Ministry said that Iran had conducted the attack against Israeli military bases. The ministry claimed that it conducted the strikes in "self-defense."
Ofir Gendelman, the prime minister's spokesperson to Arabic media, warned that Israel's response to the Iranian attack will be "firm and clear."
About 150 missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israel as of 3:00 a.m., according to ABC news.
Israel, the US, the UK, and Jordan worked to intercept the drones and missiles over Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel, according to foreign reports.
Iran's state news agency reported that a "first wave" of ballistic missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israel on Saturday night. Israeli defense sources denied the report, saying no ballistic missiles have been launched as of yet.
Israeli sources told ABC News that cruise missiles had been launched from Iraq towards Israel. Al-Arabiya reported that the US was intercepting drones over Iraq and Syria. Hezbollah said that they had fired dozens of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon towards the Golan Heights on Saturday night, setting off sirens in Snir.
The IDF confirmed that more than 100 drones have been launched by Iran, while the defense sources had earlier told The Jerusalem Post that hundreds had been fired.
IDF sources would neither confirm nor deny reports of shooting down drones in Syrian airspace based on operational considerations.
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The IDF said that it was ready to shoot drones down, though air defense is not hermetic. Israeli aircraft had reportedly already begun shooting down projectiles as of 12:00 a.m.
The IDF's shoot-down capabilities include aircraft, Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow missile system. In addition, the military can use GPS scrambling to disable certain kinds of attacking drones.
The Islamic Republic's attack comes after it accused Israel of killing top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi on April 1, who had directed its proxy attacks on Israel in Lebanon and Syria, including being a top coordinator with Hezbollah.
The IDF declined to publicly commit to a preemptive strike on Iran now that the drones have been launched.
Iran's Mission to the UN stated at 1:06 a.m. that the attack on Israel "can be deemed concluded."
"However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!" added the Iranian mission.
Israeli airspace closes as attack begins, Home Front Command prepared
The Israel Airports Authority announced that Israeli airspace would close starting at 12:30 a.m. local time.
Israel's War Cabinet met on Saturday night to track the situation and approve further action.
The commander of the IDF's Home Front Command, Rafi Milo, called on Israelis to "continue to be cautious and listen to directives; they can change depending on the assessment of the situation."
"To date, your conduct and adherence to the instructions has been exceptional; keep it up - it saves lives," added Milo. "The Home Front Command is deployed and prepared throughout the country."
"We have been at war on several fronts for over six months. Throughout the war we faced and rubbed shoulders with a large number of challenges in a very wide variety of threats, we learned and improved - we arrive prepared and strong both in defense and attack."
Drones spotted over Iraq
Shortly after the Iranian strike began, Iraqi officials announced that Iraqi airspace was being closed. Lebanon and Jordan also announced that they were closing their airspace on Saturday night.
A number of drones were seen flying from the direction of Iran over Iraq's Sulaymaniya province, three security sources told Reuters on Saturday. Additional waves of drones and missiles were spotted over other areas in Iraq and Jordan later in the night.
"Dozens of drones were spotted flying from Iran in the direction of Israel over Iraqi airspace," two Iraqi security sources also told Reuters.
Jordanian jets shot down dozens of Iranian drones, two regional security sources told Reuters.
Egypt's air defense is on alert, Egyptian military and security sources said late on Saturday, amid fears of an Iranian drone attack aimed towards Israel.
Egypt's military General Command has formed a team to monitor the situation and make any necessary decisions regarding the country's airspace, the sources said.
British Royal Air Force jets in the Middle East "will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required" after Iran targeted Israel with drones and missiles, the country's Ministry of Defence said late Saturday.
"In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks," the statement added.
Iranian attack sparks panic in Iran, Lebanon
Long lines were reported at gas stations in Iran and Lebanon as residents rushed to prepare for an expected escalation in the region in light of Iran's attack against Israel.
Netanyahu: Whoever harms us, we will harm them
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video message said that "in recent years, and even more so in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack from Iran.
He warned Tehran that "whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will protect ourselves from any threat and we will do so with steadfastness and determination."
"Together we will overcome all our enemies," he said as he urged Israelis to listen to the Home Front Command directives and thanked Israel's allies such as the US, France and Great Britain for standing with the Jewish state..
"Our defense systems are deployed. We are prepared for any scenario, both in defense and attack," Netanyahu said, as he stressed that the IDF, the state and the public were strong.
Alleged Israeli airstrikes targeted the Damascus International Airport on Saturday night as the Iranian attack reached Israel, according to Syrian reports.
Biden: our support for Israel’s security is ironclad
The White House said that "US President Joe Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House."
The White House added that the attack is "likely to unfold over a number of hours."
"President Biden has been clear: our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran," stressed the White House.
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