Israel reportedly “jamed GPS signals” in Tel Aviv in the days before Iran’s 300-missile attack in an attempt to confuse its attackers, as the IDF claimed to have intercepted “99 percent” of the Tehran shells.
Iran’s drones and ballistic missiles are believed to have been equipped with a Russian GLONASS system – a satellite navigation system – to overcome alleged interference, according to the Mirror.
While Israeli locals are no strangers to their navigation tools being blocked during security alerts, some reportedly claimed that while using Waze and Google Maps yesterday, their GPS changed to show them they were in Cairo or Beirut.
The confusion was a deliberate attempt to divert attacks from their enemies, but the move meant a greater risk of them reaching other national areas.
It comes as Israel vowed to retaliate after the barrage of airstrikes amid growing fears of a wider conflict.
Israel reportedly “jamed” GPS signals in the days leading up to Saturday night’s series of missile attacks by Iran in an attempt to confuse Iranian enemies.
Iran has said it had attacked Israel in “self-defense” following the April 1 attack on its diplomatic mission in Damascus, which was widely blamed on Israel. Missiles appear in the photo yesterday.
“We are aware that these disruptions cause inconvenience, but it is a vital and necessary tool in our defensive capabilities,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing Thursday evening.
Disrupting GPS signals in this way “is a form of electronic warfare,” according to Oded Vanunu, who leads vulnerability research at Check Point Software Technologies.
Iran claimed Israel’s ferocious bombing is a response to the April 1 airstrike on the Iranian consulate building in the Syrian capital Damascus, which killed 12 Iranians and two senior commanders.
Iran has blamed Israel for the airstrike, but the country has not yet confirmed that it will carry out what Iran has called “Operation True Promise.”
The massive airstrike began Saturday around 8 p.m. and lasted about five hours, according to US officials.
The attack marks the first time Tehran has launched a direct military attack against Israel despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In Iran’s first direct attack on Israel, Shahed missiles and ‘kamikaze drones’ were launched from his homeland and its proxies in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.
During the attack, explosions were heard in cities across Israel, including Tel Aviv, and were even heard in Jerusalem as air raid sirens sounded in more than 720 locations.
Israel’s top military spokesman, Daniel Hagari, said Iran’s attack reportedly involved more than 120 ballistic missiles, 170 drones and more than 30 cruise missiles.
But the IDF claimed it intercepted “99 percent” of Iran’s missiles through the use of its Iron Dome defense system and with the help of allies including the United Kingdom and the United States.
Speaking to the media this evening, Hagari warned that broader plans for both offensive and defensive actions have been authorized following last night’s attack by Iran.
He said: “Hamas and Iran want to inflame the Middle East and escalate the situation in the region,” adding that the IDF remains “on high alert” and is “assessing the situation.”
He continued: ‘Over the last two hours, we approved operational plans for both offensive and defensive actions.
Missiles that began entering Israeli airspace are seen in a video shared with MailOnline
“We will continue to protect the State of Israel and, together with our partners, continue to build a more secure and stable future for the entire Middle East.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog chillingly warned on Sky News: ‘Each of us should look and ask ourselves what we would do if we were attacked from all four corners of the Middle East.
‘This is a declaration of war.
‘We are considering our options and I am quite confident that we will take action to protect our people.
‘There is an evil empire in Tehran, which has its representatives throughout the region and cells throughout the world.
“They are spending billions of dollars just to undermine stability in the region.”
He also said: ‘Israel has taken all necessary measures to block this attack, which was a violent and flagrant violation of all rules.
‘I am happy that we are part of an incredible coalition of nations that has helped prevent most of these missiles, weapons and drones from reaching Israel.
‘Our air defense system has proven to be incredibly successful.
‘We are here to protect Europe. Thank God for the Israeli army and its allies and also thank you for the British forces.
Asked about global warnings not to escalate, he said: ‘The last thing Israel is looking for in this region is to go to war. We seek peace, we are peace seekers.
One view shows drones or missiles competing for targets at undisclosed locations in northern Israel.
Objects seen in the sky over Jerusalem after Iran launches drones and missiles towards Israel
‘Unfortunately, it all started on October 7 when Hamas led an incredibly brutal massacre against Israeli citizens and the rest is history. We always listen to our partners and allies, we respect their point of view.’
He said that proportionally, last night’s attack would look like 3,500 drones and missiles fired if the attack was aimed at the UK.
He added: “What would the British government do in that scenario?”
The United Kingdom was one of several countries, including the United States, to help counter Iran’s bombing, in its first direct attack on Israeli territory.
Additional RAF aircraft were deployed over Iraq and Syria, not Israel, the MoD said.
Speaking to reporters in Downing Street, Sunak said that if Iran had succeeded in its attack, “it would be difficult to overstate the consequences for regional stability.”
He did not confirm how many Iranian drones were shot down by British forces.
The attack drones were intercepted by RAF aircraft in Syrian and Iraqi airspace, but the Ministry of Defense did not clarify how many British Typhoons were in the air.
However, they assured that the RAF would revoke “any air strikes within the range” of their operations in the area.
Israel has already shown signs of retaliation after demolishing a building in eastern Lebanon today.
A source within the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah said Israel attacked one of its buildings near the Syrian border today, as tensions soared after Iran directly attacked Israel.
The source told the AFP news agency: “The Israeli attack targeted an area… near Baalbek and targeted a two-story building belonging to Hezbollah,” adding that no casualties were reported.