Iran launches barrage of strikes toward Israel

Our live coverage of Iran’s attack on Israel has moved here.

Iran has warned that it will respond with more force if Israel retaliates over this weekend’s strikes, which Tehran said were themselves a reply to an Israeli attack earlier this month on its embassy complex in Syria’s capital Damascus.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required,” Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said in a statement.

Citing self-defense against repeated Israeli military aggressions, Iravani said the strikes were specifically in retaliation to an Israeli attack on April 1 against what Iran says were diplomatic facilities in Damascus.

Iran claims the attack violated international law and led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including key commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The statement also criticizes the United Nations Security Council for “failing to uphold international peace,” allowing Israel to “breach” established international norms and “escalate” regional tensions.

Additional context: Israel has carried out numerous strikes on Iran-backed targets in Syria, often targeting weapons shipments allegedly intended for Hezbollah, a powerful Iranian proxy in Lebanon. 

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the April 1 attack which destroyed an Iranian consulate building in the capital Damascus, including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top Revolutionary Guards commander.

However an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN that their intelligence showed the building was not a consulate and was instead “a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building.”

China has expressed “deep concern” over the “current escalation” following Iran’s attack on Israel, according to a spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, adding that it is a “spillover of the Gaza conflict” and a ceasefire should be implemented without delay.

In a statement, China called “on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations.”

“The ongoing situation is the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict,” the spokesperson said, adding that a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should be implemented without any more delay.

Beijing did not name or condemn Hamas in the wake of the initial October 7 attacks. Since then, it has condemned the war and been a vocal proponent of an immediate ceasefire and the implementation of a “two-state” solution.

Last month, Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian met Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, the first meeting between a Chinese and Hamas official publicly acknowledged by Beijing since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

Wang’s visit follows efforts by Beijing to step up its profile as a peace broker in the Middle East conflict.

US forces intercepted more than 70 one-way attack drones and at least three ballistic missiles during Iran’s attack on Israel, according to two US officials familiar with the situation.

The ballistic missiles were intercepted by warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, one of the officials said. Iran launched more than 100 ballistic missiles in total at Israel, according to a senior administration official.

The US Navy currently has two destroyers in that area, both are guided missile destroyers capable of intercepting missile and drone launches.

US fighter jets were also part of the response to Iran’s attack on Saturday and shot down drones launched towards Israel, another US official told CNN.

US President Joe Biden will meet with G7 leaders Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” according to a statement released by the White House. 

“My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders,” the statement from Biden reads. “And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.”

US defensive assets moved to the region earlier this week and “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” according to the statement.

Biden also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu following Saturday’s attack “to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.” 

At least three United Airlines flights headed to or departing from the Middle East have been canceled amid the ongoing conflict unfolding between Iran and Israel.

On Saturday a flight from Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv, a flight from Washington D.C. to Amman, Jordan, and one from Dubai to Newark were canceled, the airline told CNN in a statement.

There have been no changes to any Sunday flights for United as of Saturday night, according to the airline. 

CNN has reached out to other airlines regarding cancellations.

The US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, US President Joe Biden has made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior administration official told CNN.

The comments were relayed during the phone call that the two leaders shared in the aftermath of Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel.

Israel should consider tonight a win because the current US assessment is that Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, President Joe Biden told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their phone call, a senior administration official told CNN.

The US’s assessment tonight was that almost all of the drones and missiles – including more than 100 ballistic missiles – launched by Iran had been knocked out of the sky. No cruise missile made impact, the official said, and nothing of “value” was hit. 

John Bolton, the former US national security adviser and ambassador to the UN, said “passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake,” warning of more attacks. 

“This is not time to play academic games and message and signal. This is a question of power,” Bolton told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “If they came from a different location containing nuclear warheads, Israel might not be so lucky.”

A known Iran policy hawk, Bolton served in senior national security positions during the Trump and Bush administrations. A neoconservative, Bolton has in the past advocated war with Iran and a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.

In 2022, he was the target of an alleged assassination attempt orchestrated by a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

He has warned against underestimating Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran has said is for peaceful purposes only.

“I think we have enough experience with faulty intelligence by now, not to be so sure, not to know how much of Iran’s uranium enrichment program is really being conducted under a mountain in North Korea,” Bolton said.

If Tehran sent “a wire transfer to Pyongyang,” it would give the North Koreans “enough time to put a couple of warheads on an airplane and fly them to Tehran. (But) if you take away their nuclear capability, that would be a dramatic hit to the regime, maybe enough to topple it.”

More than 55 rockets have been fired from Lebanon to Israel over the past hour, according to the Israeli military’s spokesperson.

This comes after about 40 rockets were fired at Israel from southern Lebanon on Friday, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Hezbollah militants said they had fired the rockets at Israeli artillery positions in response to recent Israeli attacks and in support of Palestinian people in Gaza.

Remember: Since the start of the Hamas-Israel war on October 7, Israel’s flare-up with Hezbollah has intensified on Lebanon’s southern border with Israel.

Hezbollah — a Lebanese armed group backed by Iran — has its main area of operations there. Hezbollah has frequently fired missiles into Israel since October 7 and Israel has responded with its own fire, including airstrikes. Israel has ordered the evacuation of communities along the Lebanese border.

The wave of strikes launched from Iran towards Israel appears to have subsided, two US officials said. The attacks lasted approximately five hours.

Early Sunday morning in Israel, the country’s Home Front Command canceled its request for citizens to remain near shelters, an indication that the Israeli military believes the immediate threat of incoming attack has passed.

The US, along with Israel, monitored the barrage of drone and missile attacks that began Saturday night and continued into early Sunday morning. The number of launches appeared to fall during Sunday’s early hours, the officials said.

US forces throughout the region were positioned to provide defensive support to Israel ahead of the attack, and the US intended to intercept as many of the launches as it could. US forces intercepted a number of drones intended for Israel as part of a coordinated defensive effort, and Washington remains vigilant for the potential of more activity.

However, even as the number of Iranian drone and missile launches has fallen, Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon fired a barrage of rockets at northern Israel early Sunday morning.

There have been no reports of injuries suffered directly through Iranian strikes, according to Israel’s emergency service.

However, the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service said it was called to treat a total of 31 people who suffered minor injuries while making their way to shelters and who suffered panic attacks during the drone and missile attacks.

Earlier, MDA said it had taken a 7-year-old girl to hospital who had suffered a severe head injury due to shrapnel from an interceptor missile that was launched to intercept an Iranian projectile. 

Sirens have sounded in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights as around 25 projectiles were fired from Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The IDF said sirens sounded in the settlements of Ortal and Sha’al early Sunday. That came after Iran attacked Israel with drones, cruise and ballistic missiles.

It did not specify the type of projectiles fired, or whether they were intercepted.

Earlier Sunday, a barrage of at least 10 rockets was fired from Lebanon towards Israel, an Israeli military spokesperson told CNN.

Sirens sounded in the Upper Galilee region of northern Israel due to the rocket fire, the IDF said in a statement.

On Friday, around 40 rockets were fired at Israel from southern Lebanon, according to the IDF. Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militants said they had fired the rockets at Israeli artillery positions in response to recent Israeli attacks and in support of Palestinian people in Gaza.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that the country stands with Israel following Iran’s attack, which he said demonstrates “the Iranian regime’s disregard for peace and stability in the region.”

“Canada unequivocally condemns Iran’s airborne attacks against Israel,” Trudeau said in a statement. “We stand with Israel. After supporting Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack, the Iranian regime’s latest actions will further destabilize the region and make lasting peace more difficult.”

“We support Israel’s right to defend itself and its people from these attacks,” Trudeau added.

Trudeau also said he is “receiving regular updates” from national security and defense officials, and remains “in contact with allies” as Canada continues to monitor the situation “closely.”

US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the White House. A readout will follow.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has asked his Israeli counterpart, Minister Yoav Gallant, to notify the US ahead of any potential response to the Iranian attack, according to a US official.

The two spoke on Saturday evening, hours after Iran had launched its massive barrage of drones and missiles at Israel.

According to an Israeli readout of the call, Gallant briefed Austin about Israel’s defense operations so far and stressed that Israel is ready for any further attacks.

The Israeli security cabinet has authorized the three-man war cabinet to decide on Israel’s response to the Iranian attack following a late-night meeting Saturday, an Israeli official told CNN.

The authorization comes after Israel faced more than 200 “threats,” according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The war cabinet comprises of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and Benny Gantz.

Israel’s Home Front Command has canceled its request for residents across the country to stay close to shelters.

The reversal comes hours after the Israel Defense Forces instructed residents of several parts of northern Israel to stay near protected spaces and mandated that residents wait in “the most protected area possible” for at least 10 minutes “upon the activation of sirens.”

The FBI has not observed any specific or credible threats to the US in relation to the ongoing violence in the Middle East, a senior federal law enforcement source told CNN.

But the agency is closely watching the situation as it unfolds, the source added.

Other US law enforcement agencies are also monitoring the ongoing attack against Israel as they guard against any possible threats to the homeland.

In a post on X, New York Police Department deputy commissioner Kaz Daughtry said department officials have been briefed on the situation by the department’s counterterrorism team but noted, “there are no credible threats to New York City.”

The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement: “The LAPD is closely monitoring the developments between Iran and Israel. While there are no credible threats to Los Angeles at this time, we are committed to ensuring safeguards to houses of worship and sensitive areas throughout all communities in Los Angeles.”

US President Joe Biden and his national security team have reconvened in the Situation Room after a brief break following their earlier meeting, according to a US official.

The previous meeting was roughly two hours long.

US President Joe Biden is expected to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Iran’s attack on Israel, according to two US officials.

Kuwait Airways announced it has rerouted all incoming and outgoing flights away from “areas of tension,” according to a written statement by the company posted on X Sunday local time.

The airline emphasized its commitment to the safety of its passengers and that its flight schedules will be adjusted according to new routes. Several airlines have announced they are re-routing or canceling flights in the light of Iranian drone and missile strikes against Israel.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed concerns over the “recent military escalations” in the region and their “potential severe repercussions” following Iranian drone and missile attacks directed at Israel, according to a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X Sunday.

“The Ministry reaffirms the Kingdom’s position that stresses the need for the (UN) Security Council to take responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, especially in this highly sensitive region for global peace and security,” the Saudi ministry added.

The ministry stressed the importance of “preventing any further exacerbation” of the crisis, warning of “dire consequences” should the situation worsen.

Residents in Amman told CNN they saw and heard activity in the skies over different parts of the Jordanian capital early Sunday morning. 

Video sent to CNN by eyewitnesses show what appeared to be mid-air interceptions. The eyewitnesses said the interceptions happened just before 2 a.m. local time. 

“At first we heard explosions in the distance. We looked outside and it was like flares in the sky, flashes. We saw something coming up and then falling,” one man in west Amman, who asked not to be named, told CNN.

A second resident who lives in the same area said they thought whatever was “exploding in the sky” would land in their neighborhood.

“The light was so bright. … It’s like the Iron Dome goes up, shoots it and explodes. It was scary, the sounds. You could hear the explosions echo. … You see what’s like a shooting star trailing down,” a second eyewitness, who also asked not to be named, said to CNN. 

The eyewitnesses said it wasn’t immediately clear how many projectiles or apparent interceptions occurred. CNN cannot confirm that what was seen were interceptions. The Jordanian government has not officially commented yet.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his “utmost concern” following Iran’s attack on Israel.

“A regional escalation must be avoided at all costs,” Sanchez wrote on X.

Sanchez said his nation is in touch with its embassies in the region “to serve Spaniards in the area.”

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, also on X, said his government “vehemently condemns the attack.”

“We call for restraint, in order to avoid an escalation of the violence,” he wrote.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning to the United States, asserting that any support or participation in actions against Iran’s interests will be met with a decisive response.

The IRGC said it held the US responsible for what it termed the “evil actions” of the Israeli government.

“Any threat by the terrorist state of America and the Zionist regime from any country will be followed by a reciprocal and proportional response from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the source of the threat,” the IRGC said.

US air defense systems in the Middle East have intercepted some Iranian drones targeting Israel.

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Iran had launched dozens of surface-to-surface missiles from its territory toward Israel. 

The vast majority of the missiles were intercepted outside Israeli territory, by Israel’s aerial defense systems, Hagari said in an update early Sunday local time.

He said a few projectiles landed within Israeli territory, and there had been a hit on an IDF base in southern Israel, which resulted in mild damage to infrastructure.

The Israeli air force had intercepted more than 10 cruise missiles outside Israeli territory, and dozens of UAVs were intercepted outside Israeli territory.

“Our planes are still in the air intercepting targets and we are ready for any threat that will come to Israel,” Hagari said. “We will do everything we need, everything to defend the state of Israel.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned Iran’s large-scale attack launched on Israel.

Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, expressing deep alarm over the potential for a devastating region-wide escalation.

“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,” Guterres said. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”

US forces have not been targeted in Iran’s attack on Israel or by Iranian proxies so far, according to two US officials. They noted no reports of any US troops being injured.

Officials caution they are still aware of ongoing launches and taking force protection measures.

In the days after a deadly Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy complex in Syria earlier this month, the only questions were how and when — not if — Iran would respond. Tehran delivered its answer on Saturday night with an unprecedented aerial attack launched directly from Iranian soil, escalating already boiling regional tensions to new levels.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) announced Saturday that they had fired dozens of drones and missiles toward Israel; an Israeli official put the number of drones at more than 100. As of early Sunday, it appeared that many of the projectiles were intercepted by the Israeli and US militaries.

The launch marked the first-ever attack launched at Israel from Iranian territory. The two countries are enemy states, but neither had ever launched a direct and overt attack on the other’s soil — though Israel’s April 1 strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus took place on what is technically considered to be sovereign Iranian territory per diplomatic convention.

For 12 days, the regime vowed revenge, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appearing before a crowd wielding a rifle as he vowed to retaliate. US officials expected Iran’s response to be calibrated to avoid all-out war, but Tehran is also seeking to reassert itself as a regional force — a tightrope that it has sought to walk since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

While the damage from Saturday night’s strikes is yet to be determined, the scale of the launch and its transnational route have already brought the region to the brink, and any misstep could have cataclysmic consequences.

Israel has already vowed to respond. “We have determined a clear principle: Whoever harms us, we will harm them,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday night as the drones made their way toward his country.

Several Latin American countries have expressed concern over Iran’s attack on Israel and the overall situation in the Middle East.

Chile: “We express our concern about the serious escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the Iranian attacks against Israel. Chile condemns the use of force and defends international humanitarian law,” Chile’s Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren wrote on X.

Mexico: The country’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep concern” over the attack and the impact “this could have on thousands” of lives. 

“Mexico condemns the use of force in international relations and calls on the parties to self-contain and seek solutions peacefully to avoid the generalization of the conflict in the Middle East,” the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs wrote on X. 

Argentina: President Javier Milei has cut short his trip to Denmark and will fly back to Argentina on Sunday to “form a crisis committee in light of the latest events in Israel,” the president’s spokesperson Manuel Adorni wrote on X. Adorni said Milei’s meeting is to “take charge of the situation and coordinate actions with the presidents of the Western world.”

Ecuador: The country’s foreign ministry said in a statement it is touch with its diplomatic staff in the region. Ecuador said Israel had provided safety instruction to its diplomatic mission. “We will continue to monitor the situation,” it added.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the country has responded to what it called “the aggressive act of the Zionist regime against the Iranian embassy in Damascus.”

In a statement released on Telegram, the ministry said Iran’s armed forces were “exercising the inherent right of self-defense stipulated in Article 5 of the United Nations Charter and in response to the repeated military aggressions of the Zionist regime and the martyrdom of the official military advisors of Iran who were working in this country [Syria] at the invitation of the Syrian government” and especially in response to the attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus earlier this month.

 “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s recourse to defensive measures in exercising the right to self-defense shows Iran’s responsible approach to regional and international peace and security at a time when the illegal and genocidal actions by the Zionist apartheid regime against the Palestinian nation and the regime’s repeated military aggression…”

The ministry’s statement concluded: “If necessary, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to take more defensive measures to protect its legitimate interests against any aggressive military actions and illegal use of force.”

Israel did not confirm it carried out the attack in Damascus on April 1, but denied Iran’s claim that the building hit was a consulate, saying it was a “military building of Quds forces.” 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and said it puts an entire region at risk of plunging “into chaos.”

“We condemn the ongoing attack in the strongest possible terms, risking to plunge an entire region into chaos,” Baerbock wrote on X.

“Iran and its proxies must stop this immediately. In these hours, we stand firmly by Israel.”

US President Joe Biden’s meeting with his national security team in the Situation Room is over for now, per a White House official. The group could reconvene later, the official said.

A photo from inside the meeting with National Security Council leaders was posted on X, formerly Twitter.

A 7-year-old girl was severely injured by shrapnel from an interceptor missile during Iran’s attack on Israel, according to Israel’s emergency service.

The girl was injured in the Negev region of southern Israel by shrapnel from an interceptor missile that was launched to intercept an Iranian projectile, a spokesperson for Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service told CNN affiliate and Israeli public broadcaster Channel 11.

The girl suffered a head injury and was unconscious, the MDA said in a later statement. She was taken to hospital for further treatment. An earlier MDA statement gave the girl’s age as 10-years-old but was subsequently updated.

The MDA had previously said that there had been no reports of injuries suffered directly through Iranian strikes on Israel.

The Israel emergency service edited their statement to reflect the gender of the child was a girl not a boy.

The US is continuing “to shoot down Iranian-launched drones targeting Israel,” a US defense official said Sunday.

“In accordance with our ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, US forces in the region continue to shoot down Iranian-launched drones targeting Israel,” the official said. “Our forces remain postured to provide additional defensive support and to protect US forces operating in the region.”

CNN teams on the ground report the sound of explosions above Tel Aviv, which appear to have been interceptions by Israeli air defenses.

There are also reports of explosions in the areas of Beersheba, the Dead Sea and Hebron in the West Bank, as well as the Golan Heights on the border with Syria.

Iron Dome intercepts took place in several additional locations, according to live webcams viewed by CNN.  

The intercepts were observed above Hanaton, which is in northern Israel east of Haifa; near Nazareth; near Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut; and Safed, near the Golan Heights.

Sirens are sounding in many parts of Israel as air defenses are activated.

There are very few countries as prepared as Israel for Iran’s air attack, given its arsenal and experience with linked militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

The best-known of Israel’s air defense capabilities is the Iron Dome — a short-range system that has intercepted thousands of rockets and drones fired by both groups in the past few years. According to Israeli manufacturer Rafael Defense Systems, it boasts a 90% success rate. Earlier this week, Israel also debuted the maritime version of the Iron Dome, an air defense system known as “C-Dome,” to intercept a Houthi drone.

But the Iron Dome does have limitations: Some rockets have punched through — several fired by Hezbollah against Israel did on Friday — and the defense system is best suited for rockets or missiles fired from short distances. Its radar has a range of 4 to 70 kilometers (about 2.5 to 43 miles).

To deal with medium- to long-range missiles or drones — the type it will likely face in Iran’s attack on Saturday — Israel installed the David’s Sling system in 2017. With a range of up to 300 kilometers (about 186 miles), its main goal is to protect against and intercept large-caliber rockets, drones or short-range ballistic missiles.

“The David’s Sling system is capable of intercepting missiles fired towards Israel by enemy countries such as Iran and Syria,” the IDF said in a statement when the system was introduced.

In addition to these short and medium-range capabilities, Israel also has the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile systems, which are designed to target and strike long-range ballistic missiles at a range of up to 2,400 kilometers (1,491 miles). The Arrow 3 system has also been used to shoot down ballistic missiles in space.

In addition to these domestically developed air defense systems, Israel also operates US-made Patriot air defense systems, which have a reported range of up to 160 kilometers (about 99 miles) and can intercept most types of missiles. These have proven quite effective against Russian hypersonic missiles in Ukraine.

Israel can also deploy its extensive air force. Its fleet includes US-made F-15, F-16 and highly advanced fifth-generation F-35 jets. All of these can be equipped with air-to-air missiles and are capable of shooting down incoming drones or missiles.

CNN’s team is hearing explosions and sirens as intercepts occur in the skies of Jerusalem.

“We are continuing to see multiple intercepts in the skies above me coming from multiple different directions. It’s hard to tell what is an incoming missile and what is an intercept,” CNN’s Nic Robertson reported.

“I’m hearing multiple, multiple detonations, again of what sound like interceptions. I am not hearing the sound of impacts,” Robertson continued.

“We’ve witnessed 20 to 30 perhaps intercepts,” he added.

Iran’s strike on Israel has drawn swift reaction from US Congress, with Democrats imploring House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring up the Senate foreign aid package. Meanwhile, Republicans are calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to act on Israel only. 

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise formally announced an update to the House schedule to consider legislation “that supports our ally Israel” and holds Iran accountable without providing specifics on what that legislation would be. 

Scalise added that more details would be coming on exact legislation and it’s unclear at this point if it is purely a messaging bill or an aid package. 

“In light of Iran’s unjustified attack on Israel, the House will move from its previously announced legislative schedule next week to instead consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable,” the GOP leader said in a statement. 

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for Israel Defense Forces, issued a video statement Saturday night reiterating instructions to Israeli civilians on staying in sheltered places.

“I remind you that no matter where the threat is launched from, when an alarm sounds you must enter the shelter and wait there for no less than ten minutes,” Hagari said.

“We will update in real-time if you are required to stay there for a longer period. The Aerial Defense Array is fully operational and is intercepting threats wherever required, even at this very moment. At this time, numerous IAF planes are in the air, ready to counter any threat,” Hagari continued.

He warned that civilians “may hear explosions from interceptions or debris falling.

“Since there are a variety of threats, the alerts may be issued across wide areas,” he said. “Continue to act responsibly and calmly as you have been and adhere to the instructions. We are strong and capable of handling this event.”

Hagari said he would issue further updates shortly.

Iran says its attack on Israel is a response to Israel’s strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and “the matter can be deemed concluded.”

Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York said the early Sunday attack was a response to Israeli “aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus.”

Israel earlier this month struck an Iranian building in the Syrian capital Damascus, with a military spokesperson saying Israel believed the Iranian building hit in the attack was a “military building.”

The Iranian mission said the matter was “deemed concluded.”

“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!” Iran’s Permanent Mission added in its statement on X.

The US embassy in Jordan is warning US citizens “of the continued need for caution” following the closure of Jordanian airspace and the launch of an Iranian retaliatory attack against Israel.

In a security alert issued Saturday, the embassy advised of the temporary airspace closure and noted that “due to high tensions in the region, the security environment remains complex and can change quickly.”

“We remind U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and encourage them to monitor the news for breaking developments,” the alert said, adding, “The U.S. Embassy in Jordan will continue to review the situation and provide additional information as needed.”

Egypt expressed its deep concern after Iran launched drones toward Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Saturday.

The statement called for the exercise of the “utmost restraint to spare the region and its people more instability and tension.”

“Egypt considers the dangerous escalation that the Iranian/Israeli arena is currently witnessing is nothing but a direct result of what Egypt has repeatedly warned about, regarding the dangers of expanding the conflict in the region as a result of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, and the provocative military actions being exercised in the region,” it said.

The ministry stressed that it is in constant contact with “all concerned parties to try to contain the situation and stop the escalation.”

The UK is not actively deploying assets for the purpose of intercepting Iranian drones, but is providing backfill for US assets that have been redeployed from counter-ISIS operations in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, according to a source familiar.

If an Iranian drone or missile went straight into that territory, UK would operate there, but the source said this shouldn’t be seen as a joint operation.

US air defense systems in the Middle East have intercepted some Iranian drones, according to two US officials.

The sources did not specify how the US intercepted the drones and where.

The Israel Defense Forces has instructed residents of several parts of northern Israel to stay near protected spaces.

“In accordance with the situational assessment, residents of the northern Golan Heights, the area of Nevatim, Dimona, and Eilat are required to stay near protective spaces until further notice,” the IDF said.

“Upon the activation of sirens, it is required to enter into a protected space,” the statement continued. “If there is no protected space, it is required to find the most protected area possible. In any case, it is required to wait ten minutes, and no less.”

The IDF said residents should wait for additional instructions from the Home Front Command.

Lebanese group Hezbollah has claimed in a statement that its militants launched dozens of Katyusha rockets targeting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air defense headquarters in the Kaila barracks area of the Golan Heights.

In a statement, Hezbollah declared its support for the Palestinian people in Gaza and their resistance against Israeli attacks on civilian areas. 

Hezbollah said that the attack was carried out at 12:35 a.m. local time on Sunday.

The UK condemned Iran’s attack on Israel, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on a statement posted on X.

“I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard,” Sunak’s statement said.

“The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq,” it said. “Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.”

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné on Saturday strongly condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and reiterated France’s solidarity and “commitment to Israel’s security.”

Meanwhile, the Netherlands said the situation in the Middle East is “very concerning” after Iran launched the attack. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on X that earlier Saturday, the Netherlands and “other countries told Iran loud and clear to refrain from attacking Israel.”

Austria and the Czech Republic expressed their support for Israel after Iran’s attack.

This post has been updated with additional reactions.

Israel’s Home Front Command said there will be no educational activity starting Sunday and all gatherings will be restricted to 1,000 people, its commanding officer announced.

“You are required to continue to vigilantly adhere to the guidelines, they may change based on the situational assessment,” Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo said. “So far, your conduct and adherence to the guidelines has been exceptional, keep it up — it saves lives.”

Ahead of Iran launching dozens of drones toward Israel, President Joe Biden on Friday made clear the US would help defend its ally.

“We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” he said from the White House. “We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed.”

The US has forces in Iraq and Syria that could potentially intercept drones en route to Israel, depending on the location from which they’re launched. US Navy forces in the Red Sea have previously intercepted long-range missiles launched from the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel. 

Troops in region: There are thousands of US troops throughout the Middle East, and a US defense official told CNN this week that the Defense Department was moving additional assets to the Middle East. 

At the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, the US shifted a significant number of assets to the Middle East in an attempt to act as a deterrence and prevent the conflict from spilling out into the region more broadly. 

Another roughly 1,000 US troops are still en route to help set up a floating pier that will be used to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said this week that it was still on track to be operational by late April or early May.

Strike group: The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group remains in the region. The strike group includes 6,000 sailors, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Gravely (DDG 107). The group also includes Carrier Air Wing Three, which is composed of nine squadrons, including four strike fighter squadrons. 

Houthi attacks: For the last several months, the US has continuously shot down missiles, rockets, and drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, as well as attacks launched by Iran-backed proxy groups in Iraq and Syria. Three US soldiers were killed in January when a drone was launched at a small US outpost in Jordan. 

CENTCOM leader: Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of CENTCOM who is the senior general overseeing US forces in the Middle East, was in Israel on Friday for meetings with his Israeli counterparts. A US official told CNN on Saturday that Kurilla had left the country.

An Israeli military official told a briefing Saturday night that more than 100 drones had been launched towards Israel from Iran.

Their approach towards Israel is being tracked and all necessary steps were being taken to defend the country, the official added.

The official said Israel was watching other “apparatus” that Iran potentially could be launching as well.

“We are following the other launch capabilities that Iran has at this at this time. I can’t confirm anything positive regarding other munitions beyond the drone, explosive drones that Iran has launched at us,” the official said.

The official added that the drones were expected to arrive in the following hours. And more waves of drones were possible as time progresses, the official added.

In preparation for what may come, Israel had conducted some GPS scrambling, as well as close Israeli airspace, the official said.

“We have a very strong defensive posture in order to address anything flying towards Israel,” the official added.

Sen. Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, reiterated the United States’ “unwavering” commitment to Israel in a statement released Saturday.

“This is the moment for the United States to show we stand together with our allies,” the statement reads. “We must join with Israel to ensure that Iran’s aggression is met with resolute action and resounding strength.”

Wicker’s comments come as Iran says it has fired a first wave of ballistic missiles at Israel. 

“Our shared enemies, including Iran and their proxies, need to know our commitment is unwavering,” the statement reads.

Iran launched dozens of drones toward Israel on Saturday, following an Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy complex in Syria earlier this month.

According to US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, the attack is “likely to unfold over a number of hours.”

“We are following the threat in the airspace. It’s a threat that will take a number of hours to arrive in Israel,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said late Saturday local time, asking Israelis to be “vigilant.”

An Israeli war cabinet meeting is currently convening at IDF headquarters, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Here’s what we know so far:

Iranian state news IRNA reported that the first barrage of ballistic missiles has been launched toward Israel, citing an informed Iranian source.

Iran’s Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani issued a stark warning to any country that allows Israel to utilize its airspace or territory for attacking Iran, saying they will face a “decisive response” from Iran.

“Any country that opens its airspace or soil to Israel to attack Iran will receive our decisive response,” state news IRNA reported, quoting Ashtiani.

US President Joe Biden is now meeting with his national security team in the Situation Room at the White House to assess Iran’s attack on Israel, a US official said.

The Israeli military intends to try and intercept drones launched by Iran before they reach Israeli skies, according to a military official.

⁠Israel anticipates that Iran may launch additional waves of drones over time and is monitoring other Iranian assets for additional types of attacks, the Israeli military official added.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced Saturday that the country’s airspace will be temporarily closed to all incoming, departing and transiting aircraft following regional developments.

The ministry added in a statement that the closure is a precautionary measure and is effective 1 a.m. local time until 7 a.m. Sunday.

This decision entails the complete cessation of air navigation operations at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport during the specified period.

Israeli officials are telling residents not to panic and to take caution as Iran launches dozens of drones toward Israel, according to CNN’s Clarissa Ward.

Schools, universities and camps are closed in Israel, and there’s a ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

“Everyone here being urged just to keep a close eye on the news, on their phones and pay attention to what they’re told to do,” she reported from Tel Aviv.

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier on Saturday educational activities in Israel would be suspended and there would be limited gatherings amid fears of an attack from Iran.

A war cabinet meeting is now convening at the Israel Defense Forces’ headquarters at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office.

Israel now estimates that Iran has launched more than 100 drones, according to an Israeli military official.

“We all need to maintain our unity as a people and as a country in the face of the great challenges we face. Only together will we win,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X.

Israel will close its airspace starting at 12:30 a.m. local time, Israel’s transportation ministry said.

“In accordance with the instructions of the security system, starting at 00:30 tonight, the airspace of the State of Israel will be closed to international and domestic flights,” it said.

“Due to the delay in the arrival of flights to Israel, the flight schedule from Tel Aviv is expected to change. Ramon Airport will be closed to traffic. The traveling public is requested to check with the airlines and on the airport authority website about the new flight times before arriving at the airport,” it continued. 

“We will continue to update according to developments,” according to the statement.

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced Saturday that the country’s airspace will be temporarily closed to all incoming, departing and transiting aircraft, effective 11:30 p.m. local time until 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

The closure is a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety and security of civil aviation within Iraqi airspace.

The authority said the decision follows a thorough risk assessment conducted by Iraqi authorities and added that the closure may be extended based on further developments in the region.

Iran launched cruise missiles at Israel, in addition to dozens of drones, according to Israeli media reports.

Public shelters have been opened in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.

The municipal administration held a special situational assessment on Saturday based on the security situation.

“Also, in the event of an alarm, the Carmelit light train stations approved for use as shelters by the Home Front Command will be opened,” according to a message from the Haifa government sent to residents.

Iranian state media confirmed that retaliatory drone strikes have been launched against targets in Israel.

According to Iran’s Press TV, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “has launched extensive drone strikes against targets in occupied territories,” a term Iran uses to describe Israel.

An IRGC statement was also read on Iranian state TV. 

“In response to the Zionist regime’s crime in attacking the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, the IRGC’s air force hit certain targets in the territories of the Zionist regime with dozens of drones and missiles,” the statement said.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group remains in the region after officials say that Iran launched dozens of drones towards Israel. 

The strike group includes 6,000 sailors, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Gravely (DDG 107). 

The destroyers have the ability to intercept missiles. They have repeatedly intercept launches form Iranian proxies.

The group also includes Carrier Air Wing Three, which is composed of nine squadrons, including four strike fighter squadrons. 

Additionally, air defense systems for US force protection exists in Iraq, Syria and Jordan. 

Iran has launched an attack against Israel that is “likely to unfold over a number of hours,” according to National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson. 

“President Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House,” and the team “is in constant communication with Israeli officials as well as other partners and allies,” the statement reads.

Watson reaffirmed the president’s position that “our support for Israel’s security is ironclad” and that the United States will “stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”

US President Joe Biden will meet with National Security Council officials in the White House Situation Room upon his return from Rehoboth, Delaware, according to a statement from the White House.

The president was also briefed about the situation in the Middle East earlier by national security adviser Jake Sullivan and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, the White House said.

The White House added that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown will be among those in the Situation Room, along with Sullivan and Finer.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Biden’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients “will attend by secure video,” the White House said.

Iran has launched dozens of drones from Iranian territory, according to an Israeli official

The Israel Defense Forces announced publicly a short time ago that Iran had launched the drones.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Saturday that Israel had been preparing for an attack from Iran.

“In recent years, and especially in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for a direct attack by Iran,” he said.

“Our defensive systems are deployed; we are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong,” he said.

Netanyahu thanked the US, Britain, France and its other allies for “standing alongside Israel.”

“We have determined a clear principle: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will defend ourselves against any threat and will do so level-headedly and with determination,” his statement said.

A US official has confirmed that Iran launched drones against Israel, shortly after an announcement from Israel Defense Forces.

An Israeli official also confirmed Iran has launched dozens of drones.

Iran launched drones toward Israel, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said they were following the threat in their airspace and added that the threat will take a number of hours to arrive in Israel. GPS will not be available in certain areas as part of preparations, Hagari said.

“If we discover specific threats that have a shorter arrival time, we will update you immediately,” Hagari said. “We ask you to be vigilant and follow the directions of Home Front Command. We understand these threats and have dealt with them in the past.”

CNN political and global affairs analyst Barak Ravid also said Iran had launched the attack using dozens of drones, citing four US and Israeli officials.

The US will attempt to intercept any weapons launched at Israel if it’s feasible to do so, two US officials told CNN, in an indication of the level of ongoing cooperation between the two militaries before an anticipated Iranian attack.

US Navy forces in the Red Sea have previously intercepted long-range missiles launched from the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel. US forces in Iraq and Syria could also potentially intercept drones and rockets targeting northern Israel, depending on the location from which they’re launched.

Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, has been in Israel meeting with the country’s security leadership. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, met with Kurilla.

There have been a number of conversations where US officials have urged Israel not to escalate the situation in retaliating against Iran, according to one of the US officials. 

Remember: An Iranian attack is expected in response to Israel’s deadly strike of Tehran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, last week.

The Damascus attack was the latest incident to stoke fears of a wider regional conflict breaking out in the Middle East during Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held a slew of calls to foreign counterparts aimed at pressuring Iran not to attack Israel.

The top US diplomat spoke with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday, according to a readout from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Blinken also spoke with the Turkish, Chinese and Saudi foreign ministers in recent days, Miller said.

The Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority announced Saturday the country’s airspace will be temporarily closed to all incoming, departing, and transiting aircraft, state news Petra reported, as neighboring Israel remains on high alert for an Iranian strike.

“The authority has taken a decision to temporarily close Jordanian airspace to all arriving, departing and crossing aircraft, starting at 11:00 pm local time for the next several hours, and this will be continuously updated and reviewed according to developments,” according to Petra.

In a statement, the authority cited the imperative to safeguard the safety and security of civil aviation within Jordanian airspace. The closure comes after a thorough assessment of risks in accordance with international standards, it added.

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said Saturday that the country has bolstered its defensive and offensive capabilities across various domains — including land, air, sea and intelligence — against a potential attack by Iran or its proxies.

Israel will safeguard its citizens, Gallant said in a statement, adding that Iran’s actions reaffirm its status as a “terrorist state.”

He assured that Israel is fully prepared to counter any form of “terrorism” and urged citizens to adhere to instructions provided by the Israel Defense Forces and the Home Front Command.

Gallant is conducting an operational situation assessment with the IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and other senior defense officials Saturday evening. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be at President Joe Biden’s meeting with his national security team, officials told CNN.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown will also be at the meeting, according to another US defense official.

Biden is returning to Washington from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Saturday to meet with his team as the US is on high alert for a potential Iranian retaliatory strike against Israel.

This post has been updated to note Austin and Brown’s attendance.

CNN’s Haley Britzky contributed reporting.

US President Joe Biden’s top national security aide spoke Saturday with his Israeli counterpart to reiterate American support for Israeli security.

Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, assured Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi of “the United States’ ironclad commitment to the security of Israel,” Sullivan wrote in a post on X.

Starting at 11 p.m. local time Saturday, educational activities in Israel will be suspended and there will be limited gatherings amid fears of an attack from Iran, according to an Israel Defense Forces statement.

Gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 1,000 people around the Gaza border and in the north, following what the IDF labeled as “a situational assessment.”

“This week, we carried out a situational assessment and approved plans for preparedness for an attack from Iran… Starting tomorrow morning and in the coming days, the education establishment, programs, and school trips will not take place.” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a video statement released on Saturday.

The United States Agency for International Development staffer who was killed in Jaffa, Israel, on Friday has been identified as Jacob Toukhy, the US Embassy in Jerusalem said Saturday.

“We are heartbroken to report that one of our own, Jacob Toukhy, was tragically killed last night in Jaffa,” the embassy said in a post on X. 

“To Jacob’s family, we and (USAID West Bank/Gaza) send our deepest condolences; we mourn alongside you. Jacob was a valued member of our embassy community for over two decades,” the embassy continued.

The embassy did not provide further details about the circumstances behind Toukhy’s killing.

The White House is calling on Iran to release the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship it seized on Saturday, adding that the administration “strongly” condemns the seizure.  

“We call on Iran to release the vessel & its international crew immediately,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. “It must be condemned unequivocally, & we will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions.” 

State news agency IRNA reported that the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy seized the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, which is being “directed back to Iranian territorial waters.” According to IRNA, the vessel is managed by the Zodiac Maritime, a company linked to Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

Tensions are already high after Iran warned it would retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria earlier this month.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Saturday “to discuss urgent regional threats and reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Israel’s defense,” according to a readout from Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Austin reiterated “that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies,” Ryder said in the brief readout.

Both Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have spoken with Gallant in recent days as the US and Israel are on high alert for a potential retaliatory attack by Iran.

US President Joe Biden is returning to the White House Saturday from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to “consult with his national security team about events in the Middle East,” according to the White House.

Biden was originally supposed to return to the White House on Sunday.

Countries are warning citizens to avoid traveling to to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories amid potential threats of ramped-up regional tensions stoked by Israel’s war in Gaza.

France urged its citizens Friday to “absolutely refrain” from parts of the region. India, Germany, Canada and the United States issued or re-emphasized similar travel advisories to citizens.

Airlines suspend flights: Dutch carrier KLM announced Saturday that it would stop flying over Iran and Israel “as a precaution.”

The carrier will continue to fly to and from Tel Aviv.

“KLM uses a safety management system to determine whether a flight to a specific destination can be operated safely. We are also in direct contact with the Dutch government and other governments. This analysis shows that we can still fly safely to and from Tel Aviv,” KLM said in a statement.

Both Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa announced a suspension of flights to and from the Iranian capital of Tehran through April 18.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday urged the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands after the body of a 14-year-old Israeli boy, Binyamin Achimair — who went missing Friday morning in the occupied West Bank — was found by Israeli security forces and police.

“I appeal to the public, let the security forces act quickly in the hunt for the terrorists - revenge actions will make it difficult for our fighters in their mission - the law must not be taken into one’s hands,” Gallant said in a post on X.

Earlier on Saturday, eyewitnesses told CNN that hundreds of Israeli settlers are surrounding Palestinian towns and attacking residents across the occupied West Bank.

European officials warned against further escalation between Israel and Iran on Saturday amid increasing tensions in the region.

David Cameron, the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary, wrote on X that he had spoken with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. The two discussed their “shared concerns about Iranian threats to attack Israel,” Cameron wrote, adding that “further escalation in the region is in no-one’s interest and risks further loss of civilian life.”

“The UK will continue to work with our partners in support of regional security,” Cameron said.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also posted to X, writing that he is “deeply troubled by reports on possible (attacks) against Israel” and that Norway calls “upon all parties to exercise restraint and avoid escalation.”

“Norway has condemned the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. It is imperative that (international) law is respected and all civilians protected,” Eide added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the death of a 14-year-old Israeli boy who went missing on Friday an “abominable murder.”

“The abominable murder of the boy Binyamin Achimair, may God avenge his blood, is a serious crime. I send my heartfelt condolences to his family,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

“(Israel Defense Forces) and Shin Bet forces are in an extensive pursuit of the despicable murderers and all those who cooperated with them,” it continued.

It is unclear what was the cause of death. The IDF said he was killed in a “terrorist attack” but has yet to provide evidence of that. CNN has reached out to the military. 

The prime minister said Israeli security forces are carrying out “intense operational and intelligence activity” in the area and in Palestinian villages, urging citizens of Israel to allow them to “do their work unhindered.”

Achimair’s disappearance sparked a major manhunt and triggered Israeli settler attacks on a Palestinian village. Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed the village of Al-Mughayyir in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars and killing at least one Palestinian man, according to Palestinian officials. 

Hundreds of Israeli settlers are surrounding Palestinian towns and attacking residents across the occupied West Bank as of Saturday afternoon, eyewitnesses told CNN.

Videos obtained by CNN show settlers setting houses and cars ablaze in the village of Duma, southeast of Nablus. Footage shows heavy smoke engulfing the air as settlers fire gunshots in the area.

Eyewitnesses said settlers stormed people’s houses, resulting in clashes with Palestinians. In one video obtained by CNN from Duma, one man described the situation as a “street war.”

Videos on social media show clashes between Palestinians and settlers in the villages of Deir Dibwan and Beitin, east of Ramallah. Palestinians are seen lobbing rocks at the settlers, and Israeli military vehicles firing tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Videos obtained by CNN show increased Israeli military presence at a checkpoint near the town of Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement Saturday that over a dozen Palestinians arrived at hospitals across the West Bank, most wounded by gunfire.

The latest attacks by settlers come a day after a large-scale attack in the village of Al-Mughayyir east of Ramallah, leaving one Palestinian man dead, following the search for a 14-year-old Israeli boy who went missing in a settlement nearby. The Israel Defense Forces announced Saturday that the boy, Binyamin Achimair, is dead.

It is unclear yet what was the cause of death, and the IDF is yet to provide evidence that this was a “terrorist attack.” CNN has reached out for clarity.

Israel is on “high alert” for “Iranian aggression,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a video statement released on Saturday. 

“Iran funds, trains and arms terror proxies across the Middle East and beyond,” Hagari said, claiming that the country is “world’s biggest state sponsor of terror.”

Hagari said that Iran will “bear the consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further,” adding that Israel has increased its readiness against “further Iranian aggression; we are also prepared to respond.”

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy seized a cargo ship in a “helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz,” according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.

Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz said in a post on X that the cargo ship seized by Iran belongs “to an EU member,” calling on “the European Union and the free world to immediately declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guards corps as a terrorist organization and to sanction Iran now.”

Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel for a deadly strike on its consulate in Syria. The United States currently expects Iran will carry out strikes against multiple targets inside Israel and that Iranian proxies could also be involved in carrying out the attacks, sources say, in what would mark a major escalation.

Portugal is in contact with Iranian authorities after a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship was seized by Iran on Saturday morning, Portugal’s government told CNN.

According to the Portuguese government, the MSC Aries is “owned by the Zodiac Maritime Limited company,” which it said is based in London.

“There is no record of Portuguese citizens on board, whether crew or command,” the statement said. The number of those on board has not been released.

Mediterranean Shipping Company confirmed the seizure, telling CNN there are 25 crew on board.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy seized the container ship in a “helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz,” state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday, which added the vessel was being taken to Iranian waters.

A CNN team witnessed dozens of settlers descending onto the Palestinian village of Al-Mughayyir in the occupied West Bank Saturday afternoon, soon after the body of 14-year-old Israeli boy, Binyamin Achimair was found. 

The team witnessed settlers setting a building and cars ablaze. Multiple shots were fired towards Palestinians in the village, although CNN could not immediately confirm who fired the shots. 

The Israeli military and border police later arrived at the scene and fired tear gas to disperse both Palestinians and settlers. 

The latest attack by settlers on the village comes a day after a large-scale attack took place amid the search for Achimair, leaving one Palestinian man dead. 

Settlers also appear to have shot at a fire truck that arrived to put out the fires, causing the truck to engulf in flames, the team said.

They also witnessed a man getting shot in his leg, but could not immediately confirm who fired the shots. The Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement Saturday that a Palestinian from Al-Mughayyir was shot in his thigh and transferred to the hospital.

A 14-year-old Israeli boy, Binyamin Achimair who went missing Friday morning in the occupied West Bank, has been found dead, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

Achimair’s disappearance sparked a major manhunt and triggered Israeli settler attacks on a Palestinian village.

“Binyamin Achimair went missing yesterday morning (Friday) and was murdered in a terrorist attack. The incident is under review. Security forces are continuing the pursuit after those suspected of carrying out the attack,” the statement added. 

It is unclear yet what was the cause of death, and the IDF is yet to provide evidence that this was a “terrorist attack.” CNN has reached out for clarity. 

Israeli public broadcaster and CNN affiliate Channel 11 on Friday reported that Achimair was grazing sheep around an Israeli settlement in northern West Bank and was last seen in the area of Malachei Ha’Shalom before he went missing.  

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed the village of Al-Mughayyir in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars and killing at least one Palestinian man, according to Palestinian officials. 

In response to a question by CNN, the IDF said “violent riots were instigated in multiple locations in the area” following the search for the boy.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has seized a container ship in a helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz, state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.

IRNA reported that the IRGC seized the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, which is now being “directed back to Iranian territorial waters.”

According to IRNA, the vessel is managed by the Zodiac Maritime, a company linked to Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

CNN has reached out to Zodiac Maritime and Eyal Ofer for comment.

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) earlier reported on a seizure near the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for global shipping, saying “regional authorities” were responsible. UKMTO did not provide further details about the boarding.

The region is on high alert after Iran vowed retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have also been targeting shipping in the Red Sea area.

Israel carried out airstrikes on “a large military complex” used by Hezbollah militants in Al Rihan, southern Lebanon on Saturday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

“A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck a large military complex belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization containing military compounds and a military post in the area of Rihan in Lebanon.”  

The IDF released a blurry video of the airstrikes it carried out - in which two explosions are visible.

It came a day after the IDF launched several airstrikes to target “military buildings” used by Hezbollah fighters in several areas in southern Lebanon.

Also on Friday, 40 rockets were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, and claimed by Hezbollah.

The US expects Iran will strike against multiple targets inside Israel in the coming days and is prepared to help intercept any weapons launched at its ally, sources tell CNN, as the Biden administration is on high alert for what could be the eruption of a volatile and unpredictable period in the Middle East.

President Joe Biden on Friday predicted that Iran’s attacks were coming “sooner than later” and sought to once again issue a stern public warning, saying that his message to Tehran was simply: “Don’t.”

The beginning of a state-on-state conflict between Iran and Israel would mark a serious escalation in the region – a scenario that the US has hoped to avoid since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October.

As of late Friday, the US believed that Iranian proxies could also be involved in the forthcoming attacks, according to a senior administration official and a source familiar with the intelligence, and that targets would likely be both inside Israel and around the region. The US’ readiness to intercept weapons launched at Israel marked a clear indication of the level of ongoing cooperation between the two militaries.

The US had observed Iran moving military assets around internally, including drones and cruise missiles, signaling that it was preparing to attack Israeli targets from inside its own territory, according to two people familiar with US intelligence. One of the people said that the US had observed Iran readying as many as 100 cruise missiles.

It was not clear whether Iran was preparing to strike from its soil as part of an initial attack, or if it was posturing to try to deter Israel or the US from conducting a possible counter strike on its territory.

Read the full story here.

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars — and leaving at least one Palestinian dead — in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

The settlers attacked Al-Mughayyir village, east of Ramallah, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, according to Amin Abu-Alia, the head of the village council. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

Here are other headlines you should know:

The US observed Iran moving military assets around internally, including drones and cruise missiles, signaling that it is possibly preparing to attack Israeli targets from inside its own territory, according to two people familiar with US intelligence. 

It is not clear whether Iran is preparing to strike from its soil as part of an initial attack, or if it is posturing to try to deter Israel or the US from conducting a possible counter strike on its territory. 

One of the people said the US had observed Iran readying as many as 100 cruise missiles.

Some context: The Iranians want their retaliatory strike on Israel — a response to the Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate last week in Damascus — to be “significant,” one of the people familiar with the intelligence said. But they also want to avoid getting embroiled in a direct war with Israel and the US, CNN has reported, which is why US intelligence has assessed that Iran may use its proxy forces to launch the first attack.

The US will attempt to intercept any weapons launched at Israel if it’s feasible to do so, two US officials told CNN, in an indication of the level of ongoing cooperation between the two militaries before an anticipated Iranian attack.

US Navy forces in the Red Sea have previously intercepted long-range missiles launched from the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel. US forces in Iraq and Syria could also potentially intercept drones and rockets targeting northern Israel, depending on the location from which they’re launched.

Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, has been in Israel meeting with the country’s security leadership. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, met with Kurilla.

There have been a number of conversations where US officials have urged Israel not to escalate the situation in retaliating against Iran, according to one of the US officials. 

Remember: An Iranian attack is expected in response to Israel’s deadly strike of Tehran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, last week.

The Damascus attack was the latest incident to stoke fears of a wider regional conflict breaking out in the Middle East during Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held a slew of calls to foreign counterparts aimed at pressuring Iran not to attack Israel.

The top US diplomat spoke with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday, according to a readout from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Blinken also spoke with the Turkish, Chinese and Saudi foreign ministers in recent days, Miller said.

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

At least one Palestinian man was killed when shots were fired by Israeli settlers in the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, according to the head of the village council Amin Abu-Alia. He said he identified the killed Palestinian as his 26-year-old relative named Jihad Abu-Alia, who was meant to get married this summer.

At least 25 others were injured in the rampage, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the scale of which has not been seen since hundreds of settlers stormed through the villages of Turmusayya and Huwara in two separate incidents last year. 

Between 1,000 and 1,200 settlers surrounded the village, and around 500 stormed it just after midday local time on Friday, blocking all the roads in the area, Abu-Alia told CNN.

He added that Israeli security forces informed Palestinian officials that the settlers were looking for a 14-year-old Israeli boy who had gone missing earlier in the day.

They attacked the village, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, Abu-Alia said. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

According to Abu-Alia, the Israeli military arrived at the scene at around 3 p.m. and didn’t stop the settlers from attacking the village. Israeli soldiers allowed them to raid homes, prevented Palestinian residents from moving around and blocked ambulances from reaching the injured, he added.  

Abu-Alia told CNN settlers stole approximately 70 sheep from the Palestinian village.

In response to a question by CNN, the IDF said “violent riots were instigated in multiple locations in the area” following the search for the boy.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Central Command Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla on Friday discussed preparations for a potential Iranian attack on Israel.

Gallant and Kurilla spoke about “readiness for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel, which may lead to regional escalation,” according to a statement from Gallant’s office.

Following the meeting, Gallant called Kurilla “a true friend of Israel” and thanked him for US support for Israel. 

“Our enemies think that they can pull apart Israel and the United States, but the opposite is true — they are bringing us together and strengthening our ties. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder,” Gallant added.

The defense minister said Israel was “prepared to defend ourselves on the ground and in the air” and would respond “in close cooperation with our partners.”

 The two met at the Israeli Hatzor Air Base near Ashdod in Israel’s Southern District.

Israeli forces surrounded and attacked the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Friday, wounding several journalists and at least one other person.

Turkish state broadcaster TRT accused Israeli tanks of launching a “targeted attack” on the journalists, including TRT Arabi cameraman Sami Shehada, who lost a leg, and correspondent Sami Barhoum, who suffered minor injuries. CNN stringer Mohammad Al-Sawalhi was also among those hurt.

The TRT statement called the assault “a deliberate attack against media professionals, marked clearly with ‘PRESS’ on their jackets” and said it was “part of a broader pattern of violence” against journalists in Gaza. As of Friday, at least 95 media workers have been killed covering the war, according to preliminary figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

CNN video shows Shehada’s right leg was severed.

“We were filming in a safe place, I was wearing my flak jacket and my helmet — even the car I was in had a ‘PRESS’ and ‘TV’ sign marked on it. It was clear that I was a civilian and a journalist. We were targeted,” he told CNN from his operating bed.

“It will not stop me from working, even if I have to walk on crutches. I will show the whole world the crimes of the Israeli occupation against civilians, people and journalists. I am one of them and I will not leave my camera even if I die,” he told Al-Sawalhi.

CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the attack and allegations that journalists were targeted at the camp. 

Video from the scene: Footage filmed by Al-Sawalhi shows people — including children, women and the elderly — taking cover in shops and running away in panic as repeated artillery fire and gunshots can be heard in the near distance.

CNN spoke to an elderly man named Saleh, who said he was trying to flee the area after Israeli tanks surrounded the camp and that he’d been hit by shrapnel.

Moments later, Saleh could be seen crossing the street when intense artillery fire struck the road a few meters from where Al-Sawalhi was filming. The journalist was hit by shrapnel, slightly injuring his right hand.

Graphic footage of the aftermath shows the elderly man severely wounded, with a bloody head injury. Saleh, Al-Sawalhi, and a number of other journalists were taken to Al-Awda Hospital for treatment, CNN footage shows.

Recent attacks: Nuseirat camp, located north of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, has been the target of several Israeli airstrikes in recent days, including one that killed 14 people Tuesday, according to the spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

The US is sanctioning four leaders of Hamas’ cyber and drone operations based in Gaza and Lebanon, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on Friday. 

“Operatives of terrorist group Hamas have used information warfare and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to facilitate terrorist violence across multiple fronts,” Miller said.  

Those sanctioned include:

The al-Shimali unit manages the development and production of automatic 120mm mortars, mobile launchers for Grad rockets, development and production of flight simulators, UAVs for intelligence gathering and suicide UAVs, according to the Treasury Department. 

“The United States will continue to target Hamas’s destabilizing attempts to launch terrorist attacks, as well as to disrupt Hamas terrorists wherever they operate, including across cyberspace,” Miller said.

Hamas and Hezbollah have developed moderately effective cyber capabilities in recent years, according to private experts who track them. Hamas has used those capabilities in espionage campaigns aimed at Israel and Arab governments for years, researchers have found. In an interview with CNN in November, Israel’s cyber defense chief alleged that Hezbollah-backed hackers had breached private security cameras in Israel to try to track the movements of Israeli soldiers.