Iran launches unprecedented strikes on Israel, opening wider conflict
Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel, the Israeli army announced late Saturday, in a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes.
Iran's proxies and allies also carried out attacks on Israeli positions as sirens sounded in many places and AFP correspondents heard blasts in the skies above Jerusalem early Sunday.
Iran had repeatedly threatened to strike Israel in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air strike on its Damascus consular annexe and Washington had warned repeatedly in recent days that the reprisals were imminent.
«Iran launched UAVs from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel,» military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement.
«We are working in close cooperation with the United States and our partners in the region in order to act against the launches and intercept them,» Rear Admiral Hagari said.
People in Jerusalem sought cover, as residents also stockpiled water.
«As you can see it's empty, everybody is running home,» said Eliyahu Barakat, a 49-year-old grocery shop owner in Jerusalem's Mamilla neighbourhood.
US President Joe Biden vowed Washington's «ironclad» support for Israel after an urgent meeting with his top security officials on the spiralling crisis.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed a retaliatory drone and missile attack was under way against Israel in retaliation for the Damascus strike which killed seven Guards, two of them generals.
The Guards said its ballistic missiles were fired
