JERUSALEM: Iran launched dozens of drones at Israel on Saturday (April 13) but the drones will take hours to reach their targets, the Israeli military said, an attack that could trigger a major escalation between the regional arch foes, and the United States vowed to supports Israel.
Two security sources in Iraq said dozens of drones were seen flying from Iran towards Israel over Iraqi airspace in what Iran Press TV called an “extensive drone strike” by the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran has vowed to avenge Israel’s attack on its consulate in Damascus on April 1 that killed seven Revolutionary Guard officers including two senior commanders. Israel did not confirm or deny responsibility for the attack.
US President Joe Biden, who on Friday warned Iran against attacking Israel after saying such a scenario was imminent, has vowed to support Israel against Iran, the White House said, as President Joe Biden held crisis talks with his top national security team.
Biden cut short his weekend trip to Delaware as fears of an attack mounted, news of which broke while the president was still in his helicopter on his way back to Washington.
The White House said that “Iran has initiated air strikes against Israel” and “will likely occur within hours”.
“President Biden has been clear: Our support for Israel’s security is rock-solid,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.
“The United States will support the Israeli people and support their defense against threats from Iran.”
Biden is kept up to date and his team is “in constant communication” with Israel and other allies, Watson said.
Biden is scheduled to meet in the heavily guarded White House situation room with top officials including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA chief Bill Burns, the White House added.
Israel is on the verge of Iranian retaliation after the embassy attack
The US president, wearing a blue baseball cap, made no comment to waiting reporters as he boarded the Marine One helicopter in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to fly back to Washington.
Upon arrival, Biden went straight to the Oval Office.
He was due to stay in the coastal city where he lives on Sunday, but cut his trip short to consult on the Middle East situation, the White House said.
Biden arrived in Rehoboth less than 24 hours earlier, shortly after warning Iran not to attack Israel but saying he expected an attack to come soon.
Earlier on Saturday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said he spoke with his Israeli counterpart Tzachi Hanegbi to emphasize Washington’s “strong” support.
Defense Secretary Austin also spoke with his Israeli counterpart and “made clear that Israel can count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against any attack by Iran and its regional proxies,” the Pentagon said.
A retired Israeli general, Amos Yadlin, told Channel 12 that Iran’s drones were each equipped with 20 kg of explosives.
The Israeli military says sirens sound in any area under threat and its defenses are ready to deal with them.
Israel and neighboring Jordan, which lies between Iraq and Israel, said they closed their airspace on Saturday evening.
The Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, now in its seventh month, has raised tensions in the region, spilling over into frontlines with Lebanon and Syria and triggering long-range attacks on Israeli targets from as far away as Yemen and Iraq.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that a Revolutionary Guard helicopter had boarded and carried the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries into Iranian waters.
