Jerusalem, June 18 (UNI) The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday intercepted a "suspicious aerial target", which was flying from the east, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said.

"Following the sirens that sounded at 05:55-05:57 (02:55-02:57 GMT) in several areas in northern Israel following a hostile aircraft infiltration, a suspicious aerial target that crossed from the east was intercepted by the IAF," the IDF said in a statement.

The IDF launched a large-scale operation dubbed Rising Lion in the early hours on June 13, striking military targets and Iranian nuclear program facilities. The Israeli air force carried out several waves of attacks across Iran, including in Tehran, killing several senior Iranian military officials, including the chief of the Iranian armed forces general staff and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, as well as several nuclear scientists. Several nuclear sites, including Natanz and Fordow, were also hit.

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei called the attack a crime and threatened Israel with a "bitter and terrible fate." The IRGC retaliated by launching Operation True Promise 3 on June 13 evening, which hit military targets inside Israel.

UNI SPUTNIK ARN