Iran launches drone attack against Israel in retaliation for Syria strikes – live

Jordan has declared a state of emergency, reports Reuters, citing state media.

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

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

The IDF has confirmed that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane was airborne for “operational reasons”, following reports of the attack.

In a broadcast statement, Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said: “We are going to try and prevent them from reaching Israeli territory. That is our task. If they do enter Israeli airspace, you will hear sirens and alarms wherever these threats enter and we will intercept them.”

“If there is a different type of threat on a different timetable we will inform you immediately on all platforms.”

Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 TV reported that Iran had launched dozens of pilotless aircraft, with retired general Amos Yadlin claiming to the broadcaster that the drones were equipped with 20 kg of explosives each.

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

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

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim to have targeted specific places in Israel by launching dozens of drones and missiles, in a statement issued via state media.

The salvo of drones fired by Iran is on course to reach Israel at 2am local time, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 TV has claimed.

The IDF has vowed to “try and prevent them from reaching Israeli territory”, with spokesperson Daniel Hagari saying in a broadcast statement: “That is our task. If they do enter Israeli airspace, you will hear sirens and alarms wherever these threats enter and we will intercept them.”

Iran has fired multiple drones towards Israel, according to reports appearing to confirm United States-issued warnings of an imminent threat from Tehran.

Months of ratcheting tensions in the region over Israel’s war in Gaza reached new levels last week, as Iran vowed retaliation for a strike that killed senior Iranian military officers in its embassy compound in Damascus, for which Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

The White House said on Saturday that Joe Biden had cut short his weekend plans to confer with national security advisers, a day after the US president warned Iran against attacking Israel – but said such a scenario could be imminent.

Hours later, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, saying the vessel was linked to Israel, as Jordan declared its airspace closed, in a possible precautionary move given the likelihood of its territory being overflown by any missiles exchanged by Iran and Israel.

Late on Saturday night, the Israeli military accused Iran of launching drones at Israel, which it said would take several hours to arrive, and confirmed prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane was airborne for “operational reasons”.