US President Joe Biden has been given an update by his national security advisers.

The White House has released this picture of the president in a meeting with his team in the situation room.

"Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad," Biden says, in the post on X.

Image source, X/@POTUS

As air raid sirens ring out, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have told Israeli civilians that they may hear blasts.

"The Aerial Defense Array is fully operational and is intercepting threats wherever required, even at this very moment," it said.

"At this time, numerous planes are in the air, ready to counter any threat. You may hear explosions from interceptions or debris falling."

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent

RAF Typhoon jets have been flying over areas of Iraq and Syria tonight and have been authorised to target any Iranian drones and missiles flying within range.

At present, the UK Ministry of Defence is not saying how many Typhoons have been airborne or whether they have intercepted any targets.

The MoD statement makes clear that RAF jets have been flying in the same areas they’ve been conducting counter IS missions as part of Operation Shader - for several years.

They are not flying over Israel.

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent in Jerusalem

Sirens were activated in Jerusalem at around 01:45 local time (23:45 BST).

Loud explosions were heard with the air defence systems shooting down objects over the city.

The multiple interceptions lit up the night sky here.

The US military has shot down some Iranian drones headed towards Israel, two US officials have told the BBC's US partner CBS News.

No information has been given yet on how they were intercepted or where.

Iran is now citing Article 51 of the UN Charter for its attack.

It says "the matter can be deemed concluded" - suggesting it will not launch further strikes. However, it has warned against any retaliation or any involvement by the United States.

“Conducted on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense, Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus," its permanent mission at the United Nations said on Twitter/X. "The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!”

Article 51 of the UN Charter says that member states have "the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs".

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

Ballistic missiles have not been confirmed by the Israeli side at the moment. But if that is the case, this is a comprehensive, substantive attack by Iran.

There are reports that some missiles have been launched by Iranian allies too - including pro-Iranian Houthis in Yemen.

A former Israel Defense Forces spokesman, Jonathan Conricus, says "this is day one of the new Middle East - for the first time Iran is attacking Israel directly from sovereign Iranian soil".

Speaking on the BBC News Channel, he cited reports of more than 100 Iranian drones and cruise missiles heading to Israel, "with different expected times of arrival". He said "Israeli air defences are busy taking out these threats".

When asked if Israel had planned for this, he said: "I think Israel is good at planning military contingencies, but they don’t always excel at the strategic part. I didn’t expect the Iranians to do this, from Iranian soil. It will drag other countries, including the US, into the conflict."

Conricus added: "I think there are a few plans in the drawers, looking at targets in Iran".

He said those targets would probably be sites "concerned with arming various terror groups, such as Hezbollah, Iranian proxies in Syria, the Houthis in Yemen".

"It depends how much damage will be done in Israel - that will be the measure of how Israel will retaliate."

Tehran has launched its first wave of ballistic missiles towards Israel, a source tells Iran's state news agency IRNA.

The missiles were fired at targets "deep" into the country, they add.

Image source, .

Frank Gardner
BBC News, Security Correspondent

This is exactly the escalation in the simmering conflict between Iran, its proxies and Israel that everyone feared: a direct attack by one nation against another.

For nearly two weeks Iran’s security establishment has been mulling its response to the 1 April airstrike on its consulate in Damascus, widely assumed to be the work of Israel, that killed several top Iranian commanders.

Clearly, a decision was reached that such a major escalation – an attack that flattened a diplomatic building and therefore sovereign Iranian territory - called for an escalatory response.

Israel has several layers of air defences and it has vowed to respond to any attack on its soil and it will.

The risk now is that this tit-for-tat continues to escalate into a full-blown regional war, something most governments in the region have been trying hard to avoid ever since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October.

More from the Iranian military statement now, which confirms this evening's attack is in relatiation for Israel's "repeated crimes" - including the 1 April attack on the Iranian consulate which Iran has blamed on Israel.

The statement says the attack has been named "Operation True Promise".

It does not give much more detail about the nature of the attack, other than to confirm the Irainan air force launched "tens of missiles and drones towards specific targets" in Israel.

Image source, Reuters

Over to Washington.

Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel that is likely to unfold over a number of hours, the White House has said.

US President Joe Biden is being “regularly updated on the situation by his national security team” and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson adds.

“His team is in constant communication with Israeli officials as well as other partners and allies,” she says.

The situation is developing rapidly, with governments around the Middle East responding to the news of the drone attacks.

Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, three nations located on the likely flight path of these drones, have shut their airspace.

Iran and Israel have also closed theirs to all but military aircraft.

Image source, Reuters

Rishi Sunak has condemned "in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel".

In a statement, the UK prime minister says the strikes "risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region".

He adds: "Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard.

“The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq.

"Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.”

Before this Iranian attack, the country's leader accused Israel of attacking their consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on 1 April, describing the strike as being equivalent to an attack on Iran itself.

"When they attacked our consulate area, it was like they attacked our territory," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech on Wednesday.

"The evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished."

Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack, in which Iran said killed seven Revolutionary Guard officers, but has not officially confirmed its involvement.

Image source, APTN

Just moments ago, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in a statement that drones had been launched from Iran towards Israel.

Here’s the complete statement:

Image source, EPA

In an address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the military is “ready for any scenario”.

"Citizens of Israel, in recent years, and especially in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for a direct attack by Iran,” he says.

“Our defensive systems are deployed; we are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong.”

He also thanks allies, including the US and UK, for “standing alongside” Israel

Netanyahu adds: “We have determined a clear principle: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will defend ourselves against any threat and will do so level-headedly and with determination.”

He calls on Israeli citizens to follow the “directives” of the IDF Home Front Command, adding: “Together we will stand and with God's help – together we will overcome all of our enemies."

We’ve just had a statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who say they have launched “dozens of drones and missiles” at Israeli territory.

Israel has so far only said drones have been launched, we’ve yet to hear them confirm missiles have also been fired.

Thanks for joining our coverage, as the Israeli military confirms that Iran has launched drones towards the country.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated the attack could take “some hours” to reach Israel.

It comes nearly two weeks after Quds Force commander, Major General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, was killed in an air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.

Tehran had quickly blamed Israel for the attack, and vowed to respond.

Israeli defence officials, in keeping with its policy of refusing to comment on actions outside its borders, declined to comment on the accusations.

Stay with us on this page for the latest updates, analysis and reaction.