Iran launches unprecedented strikes on Israel

Iran in early hours of Sunday launched an air attack on Israel with over 200 drones and missiles, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed.

The IRGC said the action was taken under the operation “True Promise”, adding that the move was part of the punishment for “Israeli crimes”.

Sirens sounded in many places and blasts heard in the skies above Jerusalem early on Sunday, international media reported as Iran’s proxies and allies carried out coordinated attacks on Israeli positions.

Israel said the drones would take several hours before reaching its airspace.

The attack come nearly two weeks after Israel attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria leaving seven IRGC members dead.

“We launched an operation using drones and missiles in response to the Zionist entity’s crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Syria,” the IRGC said in a statement.

“The operation was carried out with dozens of missiles and drones to strike specific targets in the occupied territories.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s army’s spokesman Daniel Hagari said: “Iran launched UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel.

“This is a severe and dangerous escalation. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest level of readiness ahead of this large-scale attack from Iran.”

Hagari further said Israel was working in close cooperation with the US and its partners in the region to act against the launches and intercept them.

People in Jerusalem stockpiled water and sought cover.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden vowed ironclad support for Tel Aviv following an urgent meeting with his top security officials on the crisis.