Israel, Jordan cooperate to counter Iran’s retaliatory attack

The first wave of retaliation from Tehran, following Israel’s morning attack on Iran, was intercepted in Jordanian airspace.

According to CNN, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Effie Defrin stated that Iran had launched over 100 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) toward Israeli territory. It can take up to seven hours for such drones to travel from Iran to Israel.

Defrin remarked, “All [air] defense systems are working to intercept the threats. This is a different kind of event from what we have experienced before, and we expect difficult hours ahead. We must show resilience and patience.”

Around 9:30 AM in Tel Aviv (9:30 AM TRT), an IDF official informed the press that the Israeli military had begun shooting down the Iranian drones.

Approximately two hours later, the IDF announced it had “brought the situation under control,” though it did not specify whether all the drones had been downed, according to Times of Israel correspondent Emanuel Fabian.

Jordanian Air Force jets and air defense systems shot down several missiles and drones that entered Jordanian airspace on Friday morning, as reported by the state news agency, Petra.

Citing a military source from the General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Petra reported that Royal Jordanian Air Force aircraft were on “high alert” to protect the country’s airspace and ensure the safety of the nation and its citizens.

The source added that the interception operation was based on military assessments indicating a high probability that the missiles and drones could fall on Jordanian territory and populated areas, potentially causing loss of life.

According to the report, the Jordanian Armed Forces declared they would not permit any violation of the country’s airspace under any circumstances.

Following Israel’s attack on Iran, both Jordan and Iraq announced the closure of their airspace and the suspension of all flights.

Last year, the United Kingdom took action to protect Israel during Iran’s retaliatory strike. However, uncertainty surrounds whether a similar move was made this time, despite claims to the contrary. During that previous incident, the US, the United Kingdom, France, and Jordan worked together to thwart Iran’s retaliation.

British ministers and officials convened on Friday morning to determine their response. Sources familiar with the meetings, who spoke to The Guardian, initially indicated that a decision was made early in the morning for the UK not to assist in downing the drones or intervene militarily. However, they later stated that “this decision was not yet clear.”