Iran has launched a series of drone attacks on Israeli territory after intense speculation. “BREAKING: Iran launches attack against Israel using dozens of drones, four U.S. and Israeli officials told me,” Axios reporter Barak Ravid announced in an X post Saturday.
In response to the launches, Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced restrictions on civilian activities. Gatherings of more than 1,000 people are currently prohibited.
Stricter guidelines have been placed in areas that border the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
It is expected to take several hours for the roughly 50 unmanned drones to reach Israeli territory. Drone activity has also been detected in Iraq, where dozens of Iranian-backed Shiite militias are based. Airspace has also been closed in neighboring Jordan.
President Biden is expected to meet with members of the National Security Council in order to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The president was getting ready for a weekend vacation when the strikes were launched.
An Israeli source told ABC News that Iran has also launched missiles from Iraq as well. The outlet further reported, citing U.S. officials, that missile, mortar and rocket strikes are expected from Iraq, southern Lebanon, Yemen and Iran proper.
This is a developing story.