By Dan Williams
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Iran launched dozens of drones into Israel on Saturday, but it will take hours to reach their targets, the Israeli military said, an attack that could trigger a major escalation between the archenemies of region, with the United States pledging to support Israel.
Two security sources in Iraq said dozens of drones had been spotted flying from Iran to Israel over Iraqi airspace, in what Iran’s Press TV called ” “extensive drone strikes” carried out by the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran has vowed to retaliate for what it calls an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1 that killed seven Revolutionary Guard officers, including two senior commanders. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the attack.
US President Joe Biden, who on Friday warned Iran against an attack on Israel after saying such a scenario appeared imminent, pledged to stand with Israel against Iran, said the White House.
A retired Israeli general, Amos Yadlin, told Channel 12 that the Iranian drones were equipped with 20 kg (44 pounds) of explosives each.
The Israeli military said sirens would sound in all threatened areas and that its defenses were ready to deal with them.
Israel and neighboring Jordan, located between Iraq and Israel, announced they were closing their airspace Saturday evening.
The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, now in its seventh month, has stoked tensions in the region, spreading to fronts with Lebanon and Syria and drawing long-range fire on Israeli targets as well. far as Yemen and Iraq.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that a guards helicopter boarded and took the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries into Iranian waters.
MSC, which operates the Aries, confirmed that Iran had seized the ship and said it was working “with the relevant authorities” for its safe return and the well-being of its 25 crew members.
MSC is leasing the Aries from Gortal Shipping, a subsidiary of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac said in a statement, adding that MSC was responsible for all activities on the vessel. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of piracy.
(Reporting by Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, Timur Azhari in Baghdad, Eric Beech and Doina Chiacu in Washington; writing by Angus McDowall; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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