[🇮🇷] Iran's "Operation Truthful Promise - وعده صادق" on Israel : Live Coverage

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[H3]First ever Iranian attack on Israel from Iranian soil - IDF[/H3]

A former Israeli Defense Forces spokesman, Jonathan Conricus, says "this is day one of the new Middle East - for the first time Iran is attacking Israel directly from sovereign Iranian soil".

Speaking on the BBC News Channel, he cited reports of more than 100 Iranian drones and cruise missiles heading to Israel, "with different expected times of arrival". He said "Israeli air defences are busy taking out these threats".

When asked if Israel had planned for this, he said: "I think Israel is good at planning military contingencies, but they don't always excel at the strategic part. I didn't expect the Iranians to do this, from Iranian soil. It will drag other countries, including the US, into the conflict."

Conricus added: "I think there are a few plans in the drawers, looking at targets in Iran".

He said those targets would probably be sites "concerned with arming various terror groups, such as Hezbollah, Iranian proxies in Syria, the Houthis in Yemen".

"It depends how much damage will be done in Israel - that will be the measure of how Israel will retaliate."

 

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[H2]Israeli military plans to intercept drones before they reach Israeli skies, says military official[/H2]
From CNN's Jeremy Diamond

The Israeli military intends to try and intercept drones launched by Iran before they reach Israeli skies, according to a military official.
⁠Israel anticipates that Iran may launch additional waves of drones over time and is monitoring other Iranian assets for additional types of attacks, the Israeli military official added.

 

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The UK has condemned Iran's attack on Israel, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on a statement posted on X.

"I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime's reckless attack against Israel. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard," Sunak's statement said.

"The UK will continue to stand up for Israel's security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq," it said.

"Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed."

 

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[H2]Lebanon temporarily closes airspace [/H2]
From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali and Caroline Faraj

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced Saturday that the country's airspace will be temporarily closed to all incoming, departing and transiting aircraft following regional developments.

The ministry added in a statement that the closure is a precautionary measure and is effective 1 a.m. local time until 7 a.m. Sunday.

This decision entails the complete cessation of air navigation operations at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport during the specified period.

 

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Israeli officials signaling for citizens to keep calm as schools closed and gatherings limited

Israeli officials are telling residents not to panic and to take caution as Iran launches dozens of drones toward Israel, according to CNN's Clarissa Ward.

Schools, universities and camps are closed in Israel, and there's a ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

"Everyone here being urged just to keep a close eye on the news, on their phones and pay attention to what they're told to do," she reported from Tel Aviv.

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier on Saturday educational activities in Israel would be suspended and there would be limited gatherings amid fears of an attack from Iran.