13 April 2024 , 23:23
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Ignoring Iran's stark warning, US and UK military aircraft have reportedly downed Iranian drones passing over the Iraq-Syria border as explosions are heard in Jerusalem.
Three American officials said the US military downed an Iranian drone en route to Israel. The exact number of drones shot down is unclear at this time. Media outlets claim that RAF jets were used in the defence of Israel.
A top-rated Israeli News program reported that US and British warplanes were spotted shooting down the Iranian drones as they flew over the Iraq-Syria border. Iran launched scores of unmanned drones toward Israel this afternoon amid escalation tensions and World War 3 fears.
There were reports of explosions in Jerusalem at about 6:47 p.m. (Anadolu via Getty Images)In a late-night statement on Saturday, the MoD said: "In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks. We have moved several additional Royal Air Force jets and air refuelling tankers to the region.
"These will bolster Operation Shader, which is the UK's existing counter-Daesh operation in Iraq and Syria. In addition, these UK jets will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required."
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Israel and Jordan said they both shut down their airspace once the IDF reportedly spotted an aircraft flying over Iraq. The attack is expected to take several hours before making landfall in Israel.
Sky News reported that sirens began blaring in five Israeli areas at around 6.47 pm, according to the country's military. The IDF, in a Telegram post, claimed sirens went off in southern Israel, the Shomron area, the area of the Dead Sea, Jerusalem and northern Israel.
Furthermore, reporters on the ground claim to have heard explosions in Jerusalem. Military analyst Sean Bell spoke about Iran's attack saying that while a greater escalation is possible, important players in the region do not want a wider battle.
"We have seen several times over the last few months with opportunities that Israel has attacked Hezbollah and they have responded and we thought that would get out of control, but it hasn't," he told Sky News.
Bracing for the imminent aerial strikes, the IDF has implored residents of specific areas to retreat to "protective spaces" (Anadolu via Getty Images)This comes after the IDF attacked the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus, which prompted Tehran to issue a stark promise to the state vowing to avenge the 16 senior military leaders killed. Washington and its allies have been bending backward to extinguish the flaring flames of the conflict.
The delicate situation in the Middle East has fed concerns over the beginning of a third world war, given Iran's vocal condemnation of Israel's occupation of Gaza.
Bracing for the imminent aerial strikes, the IDF has implored residents of specific areas to retreat to "protective spaces" until further notice. In a Telegram post, Israel's military advised residents of the northern Golan Heights, along with the areas of Nevatim, Dimona and Eilat, to do the same.
"Upon the activation of sirens, it is required to enter into a protected space," it said, "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." Israel captured the Golan from Syria in a 1967 war.
Nevatim is home to an Israeli air base, and the state said there is a nuclear reactor on the outskirts of Dimona. Eilat, which has been attacked numerous times by Yemen's Houthis, is Israel's southern Red Sea port.