Israel's military says Iran is launching drones in retaliation for its strikes on Terhan. Brig Gen Effie Deffrin, Israel's chief army spokesman: “In the last few hours, Iran has launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, and all the defense systems are acting to intercept the threats.” Defrin added that some 200 Israeli fighter jets participated in the operation, striking some 100 targets, and that the attacks were continuing. He said, “Israeli air defence units have been intercepting the incoming drones from Tehran, launched intermittently at Israel.”
Meanwhile, Jordan's civil aviation authority said the country's airspace will be closed for all flights, following other regional air authorities. The media said the temporary measure is out concern of any dangers related to the escalation in the region.
Also read: Israel strikes Iran's capital, raising fears of full-scale war
The Israeli strikes have killed several high-ranking officials, especially those related to Iran’s nuclear facilities and armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) chief General Salami.
While Israeli leadership believes that the killing of top-ranking army officials will severely halt Iranian capabilities of retaliation against Israel, experts have a different perspective, seeing an early drone attack as a measure to saturate the Israeli air defence Units before a full-fledged operation could be launched against the Israeli side.
Iran has a massive missile arsenal in its inventory that could strike Tel Aviv in a matter of moments if launched.
Although the Iranian side has said that the response to the attacks will be harsh and exemplary, they haven’t yet publicly announced launching missiles on Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli defence officials said that more Iranian drones may reach Israel in the coming hours if not intercepted in the midway. The drones launched by Iran would take seven hours to reach Israel, they said. Israel has declared a state of emergency amid fears of fierce retaliation from Tehran. Israel's immediate neighbour, Jordan, has closed its airspace to avoid becoming a battleground.
Defrin added that some 200 Israeli fighter jets participated in the operation, striking some 100 targets, and that the attacks were continuing.
The coming hours will be more crucial as Iran is bracing for a massive retaliation. The officials associated with the IRGC and religious bodies, including the Iranian intelligence chief, had said that if Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, Tehran would strike Israel's nuclear facilities in return.
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