By Emmanuel Nduka
Israeli authorities have confirmed that Iran launched at least 300 drones directly from its territory on Saturday, marking a major escalation of the long-running furtive war between the regional foes.
Heritage Times HT reports that the attack came late on Saturday night, as air raid sirens in cities across Israel, including in Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem screamed, and explosions were heard as Israeli air defences intercepted the projectiles.
“Iran launched UAVs from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement.
But Israel said with help from US, UK forces, it intercepted vast majority of 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran. “We are working in close cooperation with the United States and our partners in the region in order to act against the launches and intercept them,” Hagari said.
READ ALSO: Iran Launches Hundreds Of Direct Drone Strikes At Israel
Earlier on Saturday Israel warned that Iran would suffer the “consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further” as fears grew of wider conflict more than six months into Israel’s war against Hamas militants in Gaza.
The Israeli military said the Iranian salvo consisted of more than 300 “killer drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles”, but that 99 percent were intercepted, with help from forces from the United States and the United Kingdom.
The drone launches came from Iran, as well as from Iraq and Yemen, Israel said.
