Newsletters
Israeli warplanes began intercepting Iranian drones over Saudi Arabian airspace after Iran launched more than 100 unmanned aircraft toward Israel in retaliation for early morning strikes, military officials said.
The Israeli Air Force started shooting down the Iranian drones outside Israel's borders within hours of their launch, according to reports from Israeli Channel 12 and The Times of Israel, citing military sources. The drones, which take several hours to travel from Iran to Israel, were part of Tehran's response to what it called Israeli aggression.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin confirmed that Iran launched the drone attacks following Israel's massive early morning operation against Iranian targets, which involved approximately 200 aircraft. Israeli forces continue efforts to intercept the incoming drones, the military spokesman said.
The escalation began shortly after 1 a.m. U.K. time when Israel launched what it termed "pre-emptive strikes" against Iranian targets in an operation called "Rising Lion." The country simultaneously declared a state of emergency and warned citizens to prepare for potential "missile and drone attacks" in retaliation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement that Iran had recently taken steps to weaponize enriched uranium, calling it "a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival."
The Israeli strikes killed several senior Iranian military officials, according to army confirmation. Among the dead were Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Hossein Salami, and senior commander Gholam Ali Rashid.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned of "severe punishment" and claimed Israel targeted "residential areas" during the strikes.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran's uranium enrichment facility at Natanz in central Isfahan province was among the targeted sites, though no increase in radiation levels has been recorded.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States had no involvement in the strikes on Iran. British officials similarly confirmed the U.K. played no role in the operation.
U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged "all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently" as the situation continued to unfold.
The exchange marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two regional powers, with active military operations now underway as Israeli forces work to counter the Iranian drone response.
1 min read
2 min read
