Iran launches barrage of strikes toward Israel

By Tori B. Powell, Sophie Tanno, Emma Tucker, Kaanita Iyer, Paul LeBlanc and Adrienne Vogt, Jerome Taylor and James Legge, CNN

Updated 12:36 a.m. ET, April 14, 2024
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9:16 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

Israeli Home Command cancels request for residents to stay near shelters

From CNN's Tamar Michaelis

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."

9:00 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

FBI has not observed credible threats to US in wake of Iran's attack on Israel, source says

From CNN's Josh Campbell

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."

9:09 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

Meeting between Biden and national security team has resumed

From CNN's MJ Lee

President Joe Biden meets with members of the National Security team regarding the unfolding missile attacks on Israel from Iran on Saturday in the White House Situation Room. Some portions of this handout photo have been blurred by the source.
President Joe Biden meets with members of the National Security team regarding the unfolding missile attacks on Israel from Iran on Saturday in the White House Situation Room. Some portions of this handout photo have been blurred by the source. Adam Schultz/The White House

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.

8:54 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

Biden expected to speak with Netanyahu, according to US officials

From CNN's Kevin Liptak and Haley Britzky

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.

8:58 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

Kuwait Airways reroutes flights

From CNN’s Caroline Faraj and Eyad Kourdi

A Kuwait Airways plane is seen on the runway last month at an airport in Bahrain.
A Kuwait Airways plane is seen on the runway last month at an airport in Bahrain. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images/File

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.

8:32 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

Saudi Arabia calls for "restraint" amid Iranian strikes on Israel

From CNN’s Caroline Faraj and Eyad Kourdi

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.

8:48 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

Amman residents report seeing "flashes" in the sky over Jordanian capital

From CNN’s Jomana Karadsheh and Zeena Saifi

Flashes are seen in the sky over Amman, Jordan, early Sunday, local time.
Flashes are seen in the sky over Amman, Jordan, early Sunday, local time. Obtained by CNN

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.

8:52 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

Spain and Portugal call for de-escalation

From CNN's Abel Alvarado 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Brian Lawless/PA/AP/File

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.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. Patrícia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images/File

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.

8:18 p.m. ET, April 13, 2024

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warn US any act against Iran will see "reciprocal" response

From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali and Adam Pourahmadi

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.