Photo: AFP
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran confirmed that it has fired dozens of drones and missiles against Israel, following reports from Tel Aviv that Tehran had started attacking.
As part of the "True Promise" operation, the IRGC declared on Saturday that it had unleashed the drones and missiles. It also stated that this action was a form of retaliation for "Israeli crimes."
Israel stated that it would require many hours for the drones to enter its airspace.
The strikes occur over two weeks after seven members of the IRGC were murdered in an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
“We launched an operation using drones and missiles in response to the Zionist entity’s crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Syria,” the IRGC said in a statement.
“The operation was carried out with dozens of missiles and drones to strike specific targets in the occupied territories.”
Israel’s army’s spokesman, Daniel Hagari speaking in televised address on Saturday, said: “Iran launched UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel.
“This is a severe and dangerous escalation. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest level of readiness ahead of this large-scale attack from Iran.”