“Iran has just launched unmanned aerial vehicles from its territory and towards the territory of the State of Israel”Hagari said in an official statement.
“The Israel Defense Forces are on alert with a situational perspective at all times. The air defense system is on alert and Air Force aircraft and Navy ships are on mission to protect the country's skies. The IDF is following all targets,” the spokesperson added.
The military official also called on the population to “comply with the instructions of the Home Front Command and the official announcements of the IDF spokesperson in this regard.”
Hagari announced that there will be GPS signal problems due to military use to intercept these drones and recalled that Warning sirens will only sound if drones enter Israeli airspace in affected regions.
Meanwhile, Jordan closed its airspace and two flights of the Fly Dubai airline from the United Arab Emirates to Israel have turned around and will not land in the country according to Channel 12 of Israeli television.
Israel closes schools and limits activities due to threat from Iran
Israel announced on Saturday the closure of schools across the country and restrictions on public gatherings for security reasons, following threats of attack by Iran.
Starting Sunday, the first day of the week in Israel, school and extracurricular “educational activities, excursions and outings” will be suspended, said army spokesman Daniel Hagari.
The measure was taken “taking into account the security situation” and will be in effect on Sunday and Monday.
As part of these restrictions, recreation centers will also be closed and excursions canceled.
In view of Passover, outdoor gatherings will be limited to 1,000 people, with even fewer in border regions, where beaches will be closed.
Commercial activities will not be affected by the measures.
Hagari asked the population to maintain their level of “vigilance and responsibility.”
“The defense and attack systems of the air force are on alert and dozens of planes patrol the skies, prepared and ready (…). We have an excellent anti-aircraft defense system, but defense is not airtight,” he added.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz canceled a planned trip to Austria and Hungary with relatives of hostages held in Gaza by the Islamist movement Hamas since October 7.
Biden interrupts weekend trip due to urgent consultations on the Middle East
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, interrupted a weekend trip to Delaware this Saturday to return to the White House to attend urgent consultations on the Middle East, the White House reported, amid growing tensions between Iran Israel.
Iran had promised retaliation after a suspected Israeli attack on April 1 brought down an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus, in which seven members of the elite Revolutionary Guard, including two generals, were killed.
As US officials warned, a significant attack on Israel was expected in response.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Saturday that he spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Tzachi Hanegbi, to reiterate Washington's “strong” support.
“During the call, I reiterated the United States' strong commitment to Israel's security,” Sullivan said on the social network X, adding that they discussed “events in the Middle East.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also spoke with his Israeli counterpart and “made it clear that Israel could count on the full support of the United States to defend it against any attack from Iran and its regional representatives,” the Pentagon reported. gono.
Tensions had risen earlier when Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized a container ship “linked to the Zionist regime” in Israel near the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported.
The ship's operator, the Italian-Swiss group MSC, later confirmed that Iranian authorities had boarded it. The White House rejected the seizure of the British-owned ship.
“We call on Iran to immediately release the ship and its international crew,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.
“The capture of a civilian ship without prior provocation is a flagrant violation of international law and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” he added.
Biden had said on Friday that he expected Iran to retaliate “sooner rather than later” and earlier this week he said Tehran was “threatening to launch a significant attack.”
On Thursday, the Pentagon reported that the top US Middle East commander had traveled to Israel to discuss security threats with the country's military officials.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf with the Indian Ocean and, according to the United States Energy Information Administration, more than a fifth of the world's annual oil consumption passes through it each year. .
Netanyahu warns that there will be a response from Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed this Saturday that Israel is “prepared for any scenario” in a direct attack from Iran and warned that there will be a response.
“Citizens of Israel. In recent years and even more so in recent weeks Israel has been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack from Iran,” Netanyahu said in a video message to the nation.
“Our defensive systems are deployed and we are ready for any scenario, both in defense and attack. The State of Israel is strong. The Israel Defense Forces are strong and the people are strong,” he added.
The Israeli president also highlighted the support of the United States. “We appreciate that the United States supports Israel and also the support of the United Kingdom, France and many other countries,” he stressed.
Netanyahu has also anticipated that there will be a response to Tehran. “I have established a clear principle: whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are going to defend ourselves against any threat and we are going to do it calmly and determinedly,” he warned.
“I know that you, citizens of Israel, are also staying calm. I urge you to heed the directives of the Home Front Command. We are united and, with God's help, together we will defeat all enemies,” he concluded.
Jordan and Iraq close their airspace
The Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority of Jordan and the Ministry of Transport of Iraq announced the closure of the airspace of the two countries in response to the projectile attack launched from Iran against Israel.
“The measure is to preserve the safety of civil aviation in Jordanian airspace in view of the escalation of risk in the region and after evaluating the risks based on international criteria,” the Jordanian agency has published in a text collected by the official news agency, Petra.
The measure will be reviewed “depending on the development of events.”
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Minister of Transport, Razzaq al Saadawi, has also announced the closure of Iraqi airspace and also without a deadline for its reopening, according to Iraqi television Rudaw.
Israel attacks Hezbollah positions in Lebanon with fighter jets and artillery
Israel reported that it attacked targets Hezbollah in southern Lebanon with fighter jets and artillery. This information was published after confirming the launch of Iranian projectiles against Israel.
“The Israel Defense Force has attacked Hezbollah targets with fighter jets and artillery in the areas of Al Jariba, Al Wardia and Kalat Daba in response to the launch of drones against Kfar Blum and its parking lot earlier this day,” published the Israeli Armed Forces in an official statement.
“Among the targets attacked there are terrorist infrastructure and military positions,” they added.
This same Saturday, Israel reported that it had attacked a Hezbollah complex near the town of Rihan, in southern Lebanon, shortly after the Shiite party's militias unleashed a wave of dozens of rockets on the night of Friday to Saturday over northern Israel. Israel bombed seven other positions of the Shia-Lebanese party-militia, in Jula, Beit Leaf, Al Adaisa, Tayyba, Tir Harfa, Alma al Shaab, Yarinm and Ramish.
The supreme leader of IranAyatollah Ali Khamenei, spread a message on social networks in which he promises to “punish” Israel shortly after the start of an attack with dozens of drones was confirmed.
