Iran’s Guards says it has launched dozens of drones, missiles at Israel

DUBAI: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday it has launched dozens of drones and missiles against specific targets in Israel, Iranian state media quoted a statement by the elite force as saying.

The country’s Revolutionary Guards called the operation “True Promise” as “part of punishment for Israeli crimes”, as per the Iranian state TV.

The IRGC in a statement said it has targeted “specific places” in Israel by launching dozens of drones and missiles, according to the country’s state media.

Israel claimed that Iran has also launched cruise missiles at it, with shorter flight times than drones.

White House statement

Meanwhile in Washington, the White House said that “Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel that is likely to unfold over a number of hours”.

President Joe Biden is being regularly updated by his national security team and is in constant communication with Israeli officials as well as United States (US) partners and allies, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Other countries respond

Syria has put on high alert its Russian-made Pantsir ground-to-air defence systems around capital and major bases, army sources say.

Jordan declared state of emergency amidst threat of Iran attack on Israel, the country’s state media reported.

Jordan’s air defences were ready to intercept and shoot down any Iranian drones or aircraft that violate its airspace, two regional security sources said.

They said the army was also in a state of high alert and radar systems were monitoring drone activity

Israel’s “El Al Airlines” has cancelled 15 flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, the carrier said on Saturday as hostilities with Iran surged and Israel closed its airspace as a precaution.

Foreign destinations affected include Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Bucharest, Sofia, Athens, Dubai and Moscow, the El Al statement said.

Protest against Netanyahu in Israel

Israelis protested against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government on Saturday. They called for the release of hostages kidnapped in October 7 attack by Hamas in Tel Aviv

More to follow…