Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that "the Iranian attack began with the launch of dozens of UAVs (drones) towards Israel." Then he underlined that "it will take several hours to reach full activity, but the defense is not impenetrable, so it is important to obey the directives of the Israeli Home Front Command".
The maximum alert was triggered a few hours ago with the threat of the attack in retaliation for the raid that killed a Pasdaran general in Damascus while Tehran claimed the seizure of a partially Israeli-owned ship in the Strait of Hormuz after boarding it with a helicopter and special forces.
In Israel the Internal Command Front has taken action and for the first time has changed the rules for citizens starting this evening. From tomorrow all educational activities are suspended , including those organized by schools and kindergartens , which will remain closed . In open spaces , gatherings have been limited to 1,000 people .
These provisions will remain in force until 11pm on Monday, unless extended.
«Israeli citizens, in recent years, and even more so in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack by Iran», Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu anticipated, adding: «Our defense systems are deployed, we are prepare for any scenario, both defensively and offensively." «We appreciate the fact - he added - that the USA is at Israel's side, as well as the support of Great Britain, France and many other countries. Whoever harms us, we strike him. We will defend ourselves from any threat and we will do so with coldness and determination."
Meanwhile, in the USA, President Joe Biden has decided to shorten the weekend in Delaware and immediately return to the White House for "urgent consultations" on the crisis in the Middle East, in which Secretary of State Antony Blinken also participated.
But the threat from Iran has set the entire international community in fibrillation in fear of a scenario with absolutely unpredictable outcomes.
American observers, quoted by CNN, revealed that Iran has moved "military assets" in view of the imminent attack against Israel. Among the weapons identified are "drones and cruise missiles". There has been talk of 100 drones and dozens of carriers with various ranges and capabilities capable of perhaps piercing Israel's triple air defense, starting with the Iron Dome.
Jordan's airspace will be temporarily closed starting this evening to all arriving, departing and transiting aircraft.
In this situation, the number of airlines that have stopped flights to Tehran is multiplying: after Lufthansa, today it was the turn of the Dutch KLM. The Netherlands itself also decided to close its embassy in the Iranian capital on Sunday.
(Unioneonline/ss)
