Iran launched more than 100 unmanned aerial vehicles toward Israel early Friday morning, marking a major escalation in Middle Eastern tensions, according to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Brigadier General Effi Defrin. The attack followed the commencement of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, a military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear program.
In a statement, Brigadier General Defrin said, “Iran launched over 100 UAVs at Israel, and we are working to intercept them.” He emphasized that the IDF has been preparing for this operation for a long time and remains on high alert.
Israeli officials later confirmed that all incoming drones were successfully intercepted outside Israeli airspace, preventing damage or casualties.
Sources reported that some of the intercepted drones were shot down over Saudi Arabia, while others were neutralized elsewhere. Jordanian media reported that air-raid sirens were activated in the country as UAVs passed through Jordanian airspace en route to Israel. Some drones were reportedly intercepted by Jordanian forces.
An Israeli security source revealed that Iran had initially planned a joint offensive involving both ground-to-ground missiles and aerial drones. However, preliminary strikes by the Israeli Air Force reportedly disrupted Iran’s ability to launch missiles as planned.
According to the IDF, over 200 Israeli fighter jets participated in the preliminary strikes early on Friday morning, guided by military intelligence. The strikes targeted Iran’s military and nuclear sites. The preemptive, precise operation was aimed at neutralizing threats posed by Tehran’s nuclear program.
“The attack was based on high-quality intelligence and conducted in response to the Iranian regime’s ongoing aggression against Israel,” the IDF said in a statement.
The THAAD missile defense system, operated by 100 American troops stationed in Israel, has also been deployed to bolster Israeli air defenses against potential Iranian retaliatory strikes.
Earlier this morning, the IDF Home Front Command lifted shelter-in-place restrictions following the successful drone interceptions.
Post Image Credit: IDF.
