In a dramatic escalation of long-standing tensions between Iran and Israel, Iran launched a series of attacks against Israel on Saturday, according to U.S. officials. The attack comes after Iran accused Israel of perpetrating a strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1, and pledged to retaliate.

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson confirmed the airborne attack, stating, "Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel." In response, the United States expressed its unwavering support for Israel and vowed to stand with the Israeli people in defending against these threats from Iran.

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that Israel would be working closely with the U.S. and regional partners to intercept the launches. Hagari emphasized that the threat in the airspace takes several hours to reach Israeli territories, giving them time to respond.

U.S. officials have reported that the Biden administration expects Iran's attack to target Israeli government sites, with no indication of civilian, religious, or U.S. asset involvement. The anticipated attack is believed to include 100 drones, dozens of cruise missiles, and dozens of ballistic missiles.

In addition to the attack, tensions further escalated as Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship with links to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route. The move was swiftly condemned by the White House.

To prepare for potential attacks, airspaces in Israel and the surrounding region were temporarily closed. Israel also announced measures such as the closure of schools and limitations on gatherings in certain areas, starting from Sunday.

The strained relations between Iran and Israel have been intensifying since the start of the war in Gaza in October, exacerbated by the recent accusation from Iran that Israel was responsible for the attack on its consulate in Damascus. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement linking the missile and drone launches to what they termed "crimes by the Zionist Regime."

Both Iranian and Israeli leaders had previously threatened retaliation against each other. Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz warned that if Iran were to attack from its territory, Israel would respond by attacking Iran.

As tensions continue to escalate, the White House had anticipated an Iranian strike and had been in communication with Israel to ensure preparedness to defend against any potential attacks.

The situation remains fluid, and updates on this breaking news will be provided as events unfold.