Iran intensifies a regional crisis by attacking Israel in a way never seen before.

Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel on April 14. The attack is a major escalation of the long-running silent war between the regional foes.
In the early hours of April 14, explosions were heard in the sky above Jerusalem, AFP journalists reported.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to strike Israel in response to the deadly April 1 airstrike on its Damascus consulate. Washington has repeatedly warned in recent days that retaliation is imminent.
"Iran launched unmanned aerial vehicles from its territory into Israeli territory," Israel Security Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said.
"We are working closely with the US and our partners in the region to counter the launches and intercept them," Hagari said.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have confirmed that a drone and missile attack on Israel is being prepared in response to the strike in Damascus.
The Guard said it fired ballistic missiles nearly an hour after the slower-moving drones.
An Israeli military official said Iran had fired more than 100 combat drones at Israel and said it expected more to follow.
"We expect the drones to be here in the coming hours and we may see a few more waves of drones as time goes on," the official said.
Iran's allies in the region joined the attack, with Yemen's Houthi rebels also launching drones at Israel, according to the Ambrey security agency. The Lebanese organization Hezbollah claims to have fired rockets at Israeli positions in the annexed Golan Heights.
The US said it expected the attack to "evolve over several hours". Washington added that it "will support the people of Israel."
The Iranian mission to the UN has warned Washington not to interfere in Iran's conflict with Israel.
Joe Biden cut short a weekend trip to his home state of Delaware for emergency consultations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz postponed a planned visit to Hungary and Austria while Prime Minister Netanyahu convened his military cabinet in Tel Aviv.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned Iran's "reckless" actions and promised that his government would "continue to stand up for Israel's security".
France reaffirmed its commitment to Israel's security.
"With its decision to take this unprecedented action, Iran has reached a new level of destabilization," said French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourn.
Shortly before the offensive, Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was ready for a "direct attack from Iran".
"Our defense systems are deployed, we are prepared for any scenario, both defensive and offensive. Israel has the support of the US and many other countries," the Israeli prime minister added.
Israel said it was closing schools across the country, and Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon announced they were temporarily closing their airspace.
Earlier on April 13, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard detained a container ship "connected" to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz.
The ship's operator, Italian-Swiss group MSC, said it was working with the relevant authorities to ensure the well-being of the 25 crew on board.
Both Israel and the US have condemned the seizure as piracy, and Israel has also asked the EU to declare the Guards a "terrorist organization"./BGNES