Israel reportedly jammed GPS signals in Tel Aviv in the days before Iran’s 300-strong missile strike in an attempt to confuse its attackers, as the IDF claimed to have intercepted ’99 percent’ of Tehran’s projectiles .
It is believed that Iran’s drones and ballistic missiles were equipped with a Russian GLONASS system – a satellite navigation system – to break the alleged jamming, the report said. Mirror.
While Israeli residents are no strangers to having their navigation tools freeze during security alerts, some claimed that while using Waze and Google Maps yesterday, their GPS switched to indicate they were in Cairo or Beirut.
The confusion was a deliberate attempt to divert their enemies’ attacks off target, but this move meant an increased risk of them hitting other interior areas.
It comes as Israel vowed to retaliate after the barrage of airstrikes, amid growing fears of a more widespread conflict.
Israel reportedly ‘jammed’ GPS signals in the days before Iran’s series of rocket attacks on Saturday evening in an attempt to confuse Iran’s enemies
Iran has said it attacked Israel in “self-defense” after the April 1 attack on its diplomatic mission in Damascus, which was widely blamed on Israel. Pictured are yesterday’s rockets
“We are aware that these disruptions cause inconveniences, but it is an essential and necessary tool in our defensive capabilities,” Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing on Thursday evening.
Interfering with GPS signals in this way “is a form of electronic warfare,” said Oded Vanunu, head of vulnerability research at Check Point Software Technologies.
Iran claimed that the heavy bombardment of Israel is a response to the April 1 airstrike on an 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 around 8 p.m. Saturday and lasted about five hours, according to U.S. officials.
The attack marks the first time Tehran has launched a direct military attack on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In Iran’s first direct attack on Israel, Shahed’s rockets and “kamikaze drones” were launched from its homeland and its allies in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.
During the attack, explosions were heard in cities across Israel, including Tel Aviv, and even in Jerusalem as air raid sirens sounded in more than 720 locations.
Israel’s chief 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 Iranian missiles through the use of its Iron Dome defense system and with help from allies including Britain and the United States.
Speaking to the media this evening, Hagari warned that larger plans for both offensive and defensive actions have been approved following last night’s attack by Iran.
He said: “Hamas and Iran want to inflame the Middle East and escalate in the region,” adding that the IDF remains “on high alert” and “assessing the situation.”
He continued: “Over the past two hours we have approved operational plans for both offensive and defensive action.
Missiles beginning to enter Israeli airspace were seen in a video shared with MailOnline
“We will continue to protect the State of Israel, and together with our partners we will 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 be watching and asking ourselves what we would do if we were attacked from the four corners of the Middle East.
‘This is a declaration of war.
“We are considering our options and I am confident we will take steps to protect our people.
‘There is an evil empire in Tehran, which has its powers over the entire region and with cells all over the world.
“They are spending billions of dollars just to undermine stability in the region.”
He also said: “Israel took all necessary steps to block this attack, which was a violent, blatant violation of all rules.
“I’m glad we are part of an incredible coalition of countries that has helped prevent most of these missiles, weapons and drones from entering Israel.
“Our air defense system has proven incredibly successful.
‘We are here to protect Europe. Thank God for the Israeli army and its allies, and also for the British forces.”
Asked about the global warnings not to escalate, he said: “The last thing Israel wants in this region is going to war. We seek peace, we are peace seekers.
A view shows drones or missiles battling for targets in secret locations in northern Israel
Objects are seen in the skies over Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel
“Unfortunately, it all started on October 7 when Hamas led an incredibly brutal massacre against Israeli civilians and the rest is history. We always listen to our partners and allies, we respect their opinions.”
He said last night’s attack would look proportionately like 3,500 drones and missiles fired if the attack had been aimed at Britain.
He added: ‘What would the UK government do in that scenario?’
Britain was one of many countries, including the US, to help counter Iran’s bombardment – in the first ever direct attack on Israeli lands.
Additional RAF jets were deployed over Iraq and Syria, and not over Israel, the Ministry of Defense said.
Speaking to reporters in Downing Street, Sunak said that if Iran had been successful in their attack, ‘the consequences for regional stability would be difficult to overestimate’.
He did not confirm how many Iranian drones had been shot down by British forces.
Attack drones were intercepted by RAF jets 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 withdraw ‘all airborne attacks within range’ of its operations in the area.
Israel has already shown signs of retaliation after demolishing a building in eastern Lebanon earlier today.
A source within the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon said Israel today struck one of its buildings close to the Syrian border as tensions soared after Iran directly attacked Israel.
The source told AFP news agency: “The Israeli attack targeted an area… near Baalbek and on a two-storey building belonging to Hezbollah,” adding that no casualties were reported.