US to Support Israel's Defense Efforts Amid Iran's Drone Attack

The White House has announced its support for Israel's defense against an ongoing airborne attack from Iran. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated that Iran has initiated an airborne attack on Israel, and the US will stand with Israel in defending against these threats. In response to the impending Iranian drone attack, Israeli aviation authorities have closed the country's airspace to all flights. The closure went into effect at 12:30 a.m. local time, affecting flights and causing travelers to check with their airlines for changes.Iranian state television confirmed Tehran's launch of an attack towards Israel, while Iraq's state news agency reported the country's airspace closure. The Israeli military has stated that Iran has launched several drones towards Israel, with Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari saying it would take hours for the aircraft to arrive. Israel has been on heightened alert since an airstrike last week killed two Iranian generals in Syria, with Iran accusing Israel of being behind the attack and vowing revenge.A US official briefed on the attack said Iran had launched "dozens" of drones, while earlier on Saturday, the Israeli military announced the cancellation of school and limitations on public gatherings as safety precautions. Hagari stated that Israel is "prepared and ready" with defensive and offensive actions, adding that there is "tight" cooperation with the US and other regional partners. Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of the US Central Command, has been in Israel recently to coordinate with the country regarding Iranian threats.Israel has multiple layers of air defense capable of intercepting long-range missiles, UAVs, and short-range rockets. Hagari emphasized Israel's "excellent air defense system" but urged the public to listen to safety announcements as it is not 100% effective. President Joe Biden convened a principals meeting of the National Security Council on Saturday to discuss the unfolding attack and returned to the White House from his weekend trip to monitor the situation.For days, Iranian officials have threatened to "slap" Israel for its Syria strike. Iran has largely avoided directly attacking Israel but has targeted Israeli or Jewish-linked sites through proxy forces. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has heightened tensions in the Middle East, with any new attack threatening to escalate into a wider regional war.On Saturday, commandos from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The Guards' navy attacked the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group. Geneva-based MSC acknowledged the seizure and confirmed 25 crew members were on board.White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson urged Iran to release the crew and vessel, which consisted of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian, and Estonian nationals. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on nations to list the Guard as a terrorist organization, describing Iran as a "criminal regime" supporting Hamas crimes and conducting a pirate operation in violation of international law.The US has continued supporting Israel despite growing concerns over its war on Gaza killing over 33,600 Palestinians and wounding more than 76,200 others. Amid increased tensions, Lufthansa Group extended its suspension of flights between Frankfurt and Tehran through Thursday and announced its planes would avoid Iranian airspace. Dutch airline KLM will no longer fly over Iran or Israel but will continue flights to and from Tel Aviv.