Iran Escalates Conflict with Drone Attack on Israel, Airspace Shut

Late on Saturday, Iran launched drones towards Israel, marking the first time the country has ever initiated a full-scale military assault on Israel. This follows an airstrike last week that killed two Iranian generals in Syria, for which Iran accused Israel of being responsible. The Israeli military is prepared for the incoming drones, with Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stating that there is "tight" cooperation with the US and other regional partners. The White House has announced it will provide unspecified support for Israel's defense against the ongoing attack.In response to the drone attack, Israeli aviation authorities closed the country's airspace to all flights. The Israeli military also canceled school and limited public gatherings as a precautionary measure. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard had launched "dozens of drones and missiles towards the occupied territories and positions of the Zionist regime."President Joe Biden convened a principals meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the unfolding attack and cut short a weekend trip to monitor the situation from the White House. Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of the US Central Command, has been in Israel in recent days to coordinate with Israel about Iranian threats.Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have threatened to "slap" Israel for its Syria strike. Iran has largely avoided directly attacking Israel in the past, instead targeting Israeli or Jewish-linked sites through proxy forces. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has heightened tensions in the Middle East, and any new attack threatens to escalate that conflict into a wider regional war.In a separate incident on Saturday, commandos from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group. The White House urged Iran to release the crew and vessel, while Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on nations to list the Guard as a terrorist organization.The US has continued to support Israel despite growing concerns over its war on Gaza, which has killed more than 33,600 Palestinians and wounded over 76,200 more. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart to discuss regional threats and reaffirmed full US support for defending Israel against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies. National security adviser Jake Sullivan also spoke with his counterpart to reinforce Washington's "ironclad commitment to the security of Israel."