On Friday, the Israeli Air Force responded to a massive Iranian drone assault and began intercepting drones early Friday morning, with most being shot down before crossing into Israeli airspace, according to military officials.

IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed that Iran launched over 100 drones at Israel during the early morning hours during a press conference.

According to the Jerusalem Post, sirens were activated across parts of Israel, and civilians were initially instructed to stay close to bomb shelters. The IDF's Home Front Command rescinded the order to stay near sheltered areas nationwide on Friday morning, following a reduced threat analysis after the military said it intercepted the drones.

In a major counteroffensive, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed over 200 aircraft, striking more than 100 targets inside Iran using over 330 munitions. The strikes began around 3:00 a.m. local time, focusing heavily on radar installations and medium-level air defense systems that remain after Israel's previous destruction of Iran’s top-tier Russian-made S-300 systems in October 2024.

Military analysts say this new wave of attacks could allow Israel to achieve air supremacy in Iranian skies, enabling future strikes with less resistance. The IDF Home Front Command has since eased civilian restrictions, stating there is no longer an immediate need to stay near shelters.

US President Donald Trump told Fox News Thursday night that he was aware of the strikes beforehand, but added the US was not involved militarily and hopes Iran will return to the negotiating table. Trump noted that the administration reached out to at least one key Middle Eastern ally to acknowledge that the strike was going to happen and had been consulting with Netanyahu for days prior to the attack.

He told the outlet, “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back.”

The President added that CENTCOM was placed on high alert, anticipating retaliation from the terrorist state. Trump stated that the US will defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates.

In anticipation of retaliation, major Israeli airlines—including Israir, El Al, and Arkia—began evacuating their aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport, which was shut down until further notice. The aircraft were flown out without passengers as part of previously developed emergency protocols, according to Reuters. Flight data from Flightradar24 shows El Al aircraft rerouted to European destinations, while some Israir flights headed to Cyprus.

While Israel previously enjoyed widespread international backing, including from the US, UK, and France, during Iranian attacks in April and October 2024, this current confrontation appears more isolated. Israel’s strike was preemptive, prompting some hesitation among allies.

The drone barrage extended beyond Israel’s borders. Jordanian state media reported that it intercepted several drones that entered its airspace. Jordan also permitted U.S. and Israeli jets to traverse its skies during the counter-defense effort.

Sirens were heard in Amman, the Jordanian capital, as the country faced drone threats amid the broader regional escalation. Jordan’s cooperation in allowing airspace use could prove critical to Israel’s continuing operations.

In addition to Israel, other countries that are reported to have participated in intercepting Iranian drones and missiles included America, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, the United Arab Emerates, and Azerbijan.