Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Iran reportedly sent numerous drones towards Israel, a move confirmed by Israeli officials. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel is prepared to retaliate against Iran’s aggression.
Footage shows Iranian missiles over occupied West Bank pic.twitter.com/6FvPQ8OZDW
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Reports suggest that a number of drones were observed flying from Iran towards Israel via Iraq’s Sulaymaniya province. Iranian authorities have announced the release of drones from Yemen, a claim corroborated by Israeli officials who reported the launch of 136 drones by Iran.
Barrage of missiles heading toward occupied territories pic.twitter.com/Tjq06ICUaS
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 13, 2024
In addition to the drone attack, media reports indicate that Iran also launched a cruise missile at Israel, further escalating tensions in the region.
According to media sources, Iranian drones may take up to nine hours to reach Israel, raising concerns about potential strikes from Iranian forces. Tehran has also reportedly temporarily closed its airspace, as per Iranian media reports.
International media reports suggest that Israel has evacuated certain military bases, deployed aircraft, and activated its defense systems to intercept drones launched from western Iran and Iraq.
Iran had previously vowed to retaliate, prompting US President Joe Biden to cut short a weekend trip to monitor the situation from the White House. Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip has exacerbated long-standing tensions in the Middle East, and any new attacks could further escalate the situation into a wider regional conflict.
In the latest altercation between the two countries, commandos from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard boarded an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the Strait of Hormuz, seizing the vessel.