US sends in amphibious warship USS Bataan and support vessels with 2,500 Marines on board into the Eastern Mediterranean and places military bases in Iraq on full alert as Iran attacks Israel

The US has sent the war ship Bataan as well as two support ships with 2,500 Marines onboard into the Eastern Mediterranean after Iran launched a drone attack on Israel. 

US Congressional sources say the amphibious war ship Bataan is leading a US naval task force in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

The Bataan has two support ships and together they have about 2,500 Marines onboard. The US also has several guided missile destroyers including the Carney in the area.

US bases in Iraq have been placed on full alert and will also attempt to shoot down missiles and drones aimed at Israel. 

In addition, the US has two destroyers and a Cruiser in the Red Sea that are fully armed with anti-missile weapons and they too are under orders to shoot down any Israeli bound missiles or drones.

US Congressional sources say the amphibious war ship Bataan, seen here in December of last year, is leading a US naval task force in the Eastern Mediterranean

US bases in Iraq have been placed on full alert and will also attempt to shoot down missiles and drones aimed at Israel

Biden is seen here walking to the Oval Office after returning from Delaware to consult his national security team 

Iran launched the drones Saturday afternoon Eastern Standard Time, and they are expected to take hours to reach their target.

On Saturday afternoon, President Biden rushed back from Delaware for an emergency national security meeting on the matter. 

Israel has an 'iron dome' security system which can shoot down enemy missiles, although it is unclear if it will be able to fend off the full force of Iran's attack.

Dozens of drones were seen flying from Iran over neighboring Iraq's Sulaymaniya province, according to three security sources. 

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said via state media that it had 'launched extensive drone strikes against targets in occupied territories.' 

Iranian media reported that a second wave of drones has been launched, though details on their current location are not yet known.

The IDF's spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said it would take several hours for the drones to arrive in Israel, adding that sirens would be sounded in threatened areas.

The IDF said: 'The air defense array is on high alert at the same time as the Air Force planes and Navy ships that are on a mission to protect the country’s skies. The IDF is monitoring all targets.

The US also has several guided missile destroyers including the Carney, pictured here, in the area

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said via state media that it had 'launched extensive drone strikes against targets in occupied territories', seen here

'We ask the public to adhere to and follow the instructions of the Home Front Command and the official IDF announcements regarding the matter.'

Iran had threatened to hit back at Israel over an attack in Syria, which Tehran say was an Israeli airstrike on a Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus. 

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed retribution in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to take responsibility.

The April 1 attack destroyed Iran's consulate building in the city and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, including the two generals.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that Israel 'must be punished and will be punished', days after one of his advisers said Israeli embassies are 'no longer safe'.