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Around the World in 16 Photos Share Tweet Pin Share

By Tonya Fitzpatrick, Esq. | August 23, 2023 The World Insights

You don’t need a passport to travel around the world . Enjoying all of the things that travel offers–new cultures, foods, and experiences–can happen close to home.

During this COVID era when we haven’t been able to take flight to a land far away we’ve found creative ways to appease our wanderlust. We’ve embarked on virtual tours, and relived past travel journeys as we’ve scrolled through our photo streams and even traveled vicariously around the World through the lens and stories of other travelers.

Photos and good storytelling inspire and engage our senses so we have curated this compelling photo essay from 16 fellow travelers who have memorable travel stories to share. In the short photo stories below these travelers relive this travel memory and they invite us to experience the moment with them.

Let your imagination roam as you traverse the world through photos and stories from India to Ukraine, the United States and beyond. Take a memorable trip around the world !

“The pink lake in Ukraine is inconvenient to reach and its kind of ugly from the shore. However if you walk a few hundred meters into the lake you will be met with barbie-pink colored water and that will just takes your breath away. This pink lake s my favorite discovery in 2020.”

– Alona Tiunina, Jet Set Together

“In 2018, I had a 10 day trip in the state of Rajasthan, India with my family. Usually I travel with my family twice a year but that year we could only manage to take one trip. It was a road trip starting from Delhi and ending at Jaipur with stops in Agra, Jaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur in between.

We covered some of the best travel destinations in India during our trip and the memories associated with each and every place are still alive in our memories. For me, the best memory of all was an hour that we spent in the middle of Thar Desert near Sam, Jaisalmer where we witnessed one of the best sunrises Ive ever experienced. I sat with my family on a charpai over a sand dune as we watched the golden sun rise over the horizon. This is an experience that I will never forget in my life.”

– Subhadeep Mondal, My Travel Frames

“Two years ago, I visited Ömnögovi, Mongolia because my brother was completing his time there with the Peace Corp. It was the first time I felt so connected to nature. We drove endlessly through pasture, deserts and rocky terrain. Occasionally we stopped for the sheep to pass through.”

– Vivian Wang, Viv The Wanderer

“A solo holiday rafting the Zambezi River in Africa ; unexpectedly facing 60km of the biggest white water in the world, crocodiles and hippos was terrifying, exhilarating, intimidating and intoxicating.

We cooked on wood fires and slept under the stars.

I learned there’s more to life than work-eat-sleep-repeat.

Now, I travel full time.”

– Jacqueline Lambert, World Wide Walkies

“In 2012, I met my husband on a train in Venice, Italy when I was traveling solo. For three weeks after we met, we were inseparable as we meandered through Florence, Rome, Positano and Capri. We married shortly after that trip and are still going strong 8 years later.”

– Christine Andraus, Partenza Travel

“Travel has a way of opening us up to finding those special places that stop us in our tracks. Those places that are so touching, so historical, so awesome that they demand reverence. Like when we found ochre hand prints while exploring the Spearfish Community Caves in the Black Hills of South Dakota .”

– David N. Brace, DavidNBrace.com

“One of my happiest travel moments was summiting Half Dome in California’s Yosemite National Park . I could try to explain why, but I think the photo does that for me.”

-Steve Silberberg, Fitpacking

“Soaking in the tranquillity of Antarctica from a Kayak. The majestic ice scape certainly made it an unforgettable experience, but the lifelong gain is a new friend who would become my travel buddy for another 6 months (and many more to come).”

– Rax, NomadsUnveiled

“On a family holiday to County Donegal in the north-west of Ireland in the mid-1990s, I discovered through the eyes of a rockclimber an unclimbed sea stack called  Cnoc na Mara . This sea stack became the inspiration behind making many life-changing decisions to become what I am today.”

– Iain Miller, Unique Ascent

“In 2013 I had a group of trekkers from Poland that I took to the Manaslu circuit in Nepal . As we were trekking near the village of Samagaun, one of my clients saw a white yak and went to touch it. The yak turned and attacked the trekker and chased him away. Luckily neither the trekker or the yak were seriously harmed. While this is not my best travel experience it is my most memorable one.” (Editors note: Wild animals are not domestic pets. Respect wildlife.)

– Shreeram Thapaliya, Nepal Trek Hub

“It wasn’t supposed to be a private tour, but the snow must have scared everyone else off. Unhindered by other tourists, I photographed the rare of sight of Rattlesnake Canyon in Page, Arizona free of tourists and covered in a fresh blanket of snow. It was a photographer’s paradise.”

– Delaney Van, Aperture Adventure

“This past summer we visited Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming . As we pulled into the parking lot, a woman frantically waved us to get off and head to the stream. Boy, we were in for a treat!

A mommy moose and her two kids were were arriving at the stream. They played, ate, wrestled, raced and in front of our eyes rolled a National Geographic show for 30 minutes. After 100 countries and dozens of African wildlife safaris, this was a memory for the memory lane.

As if this was not enough, at the end we looked up, only to see my cousin and his family heading towards up. Our jaws dropped! We had no clue that we were heading to the same place from two different parts of the country, even though we chat all the time.

Sadly, they had missed the entire Moose show because their camera needed a battery change.”

– Jyoti Baid, Story At Every Corner

“Sometimes the most memorable moments are the unexpected ones, especially during travels. In November of 2019, I was in Darjeeling, India and staying at a heavenly tea estate, which lies above the banks of the Rungeet River, high in the Himalayas – the magnificent Kanchenjunga mountain range. One can never predict the weather, and we hoped during our 4-night stay for a clear morning to see the sunrise and blessed we were.”

– Carol Ketelson, Delectable Destinations

“I ventured out of my hotel on a gray rainy day during a work trip to Paris . Then, I wandered through the streets aimlessly until I came to a cobblestone walkway. I looked up, and walking towards me was my best friend from kindergarten who I hadn’t seen in years.”

– Lauren Levy, Aden’s Mom

“Last year I took my mom to Rome . It’s been something she had been talking about as long as I could remember. It was a magical experience and I could really tell I gave my mom back some of the magic she had given me while raising me.”

– Sam Fletcher, Open Road Reviews

“The best travel moments are the unplanned ones. We arrived in Paris , but our luggage was lost. We went ahead with this pre-planned photo shoot in the clothes we had on. Our photographer was fun and so amazing that the problem of our missing luggage disappeared for a moment. Now, we have this great memory.”

– Portia O’Laughlin, When I Wander

I hope that these 16 stories around the world have inspired your imagination and satisfied your wanderlust for a moment.

If you would like to share one of your favorite travel memories please comment below. Until we’re able to safely travel again we will continue to live vicariously through travel stories around the world like these .

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Tonya Fitzpatrick, Esq . is co-Founder of World Footprints , a social impact travel storytelling content hub she runs with her husband, Ian, that has been recognized as Best Social Impact Travel Media Company by CEO Monthly. She is an award-winning travel and business journalist, global public speaker, and 3-time TEDx speaker.  Tonya regularly shares her insights on career transitions, DEIA in travel and the transformative power of travel to audiences all over the world.  Recognized as Black Travel Journalists of the Year—an honor she shares with Ian, Tonya contributes her time and leadership to several boards and commissions in the travel community including SATW, The Explorers Club (DC), North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) and JourneyWoman. Tonya has been appointed to the Maryland Tourism Development Board by Gov. Wes Moore.

More articles by Tonya Fitzpatrick, Esq.

2 thoughts on “Around the World in 16 Photos”

Amazing post with the best 16 images. It appears to be an incredible globe tour.

Wow, it’s really amazing photos and article.

Comments are closed.

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Around the World in 45 Gorgeous Photographs

Explore these scenic landscapes, rich cultures, and picturesque animals from the 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year contest.

The 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest is now halfway over and the submissions from photographers from around the globe are providing us with a wealth of images to choose from.

The images encompass all the makings of a great photograph, light, composition, and a compelling subject. Here is a selection that caught our eye and can take you on an experiential journey to some of our world's most interesting places.

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A Look at My 20 Top Travel Photos of 2021

The clock is beginning to run out on the year 2021 and that means it is about time for my annual post on my Top Travel Photos of the year. To be completely honest, when the year started, my hope was that this post would be filled with wonderful pictures from my autumn trip to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. However, the COVID-19 curse put a dent in my travel plans once again and left me scrambling to change my travel plans this autumn. As frustrating as it was to have to push back my trip, I was extremely blessed to be able to go on several incredible adventures this past year. From those adventures, I was able to capture several great photographs that I am very happy with. The purpose of this annual post is to share these photographs with you in the hopes that it inspires you to plan your next big adventure.

However, before I introduce you to my favorite pictures from my travel adventures this year, let me remind you that you can still go back and review my favorite photographs from previous years in case you missed them. This is a yearly exercise that I have been doing for several years and I have linked to the previous editions of my yearly Top Travel Photos showcase for you to review below.

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Elephant Seal Vista in California

The travel year began for me with a trip to Southern California to visit my brother and his family. I love getting to see them, but I also love my visits because there are so many incredible things to see and do in Southern California. One of my favorite stops, when I am down there, is the Elephant Seal vista North of Santa Barbara. Seeing these huge and incredible creatures up close is remarkable.

Bull Elephant Seal

This year when I visited, I was lucky enough to visit around mating season, so there were a lot of huge bull elephant seals on the beach. You really have no idea just how massive these seals are until you see them in person. This guy was doing his best to protect a prime piece of beach that he had staked his claim to.

Pinnacles National Park

One of my favorite stops on my California trip this year was to a national park that I have been trying to find time to visit for years. Pinnacles National Park is one of the newer parks in the United States, and it is also one of the smallest. However, what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in beauty. I think this shot of the jagged rock formations in the high hills of the park perfectly showcases the beauty of this incredible park. If you would like to learn more about the park, I have linked to a visitor guide I created for you to review below.

Condor Landing at Pinnacles National Park

Without a doubt, some of the top travel photos that I took this past year were of the incredible California Condors at Pinnacles National Park. If you haven’t had an opportunity to see these incredible birds in person, you are really missing out. If you think the size and beauty of bald eagles are impressive, wait until you see these kings of the sky.

Condor in Flight at Pinnacles National Park

If I had to narrow down the favorite of my top travel photos from this year, it would be very difficult to not choose this shot of a California Condor in mid-flight at Pinnacles National Park. Seeing this picture brings back such fond memories of seeing these amazing birds in person and just sitting mesmerized as I watched them soar above the park.

Beautiful Santa Barbara, California

Ever since I first visited my brother and his family in Santa Barbara, California, I have been in love with the city. If you love outdoor adventure, the city of Santa Barbara couldn’t be a more perfect destination for you. With close proximity to some incredible surfing spots and the Sierra Nevada range only a short way away, there is always something to do outside. Not to mention, it is the gateway to the Channel Islands, which is one of the most incredible and underrated national parks in the United States. There is some of the best whale watching in the world off of the islands. I took the picture below from high up on the bluffs behind Santa Barbara. In the distance, you can actually see the Channel Islands off the coast. So beautiful!

Beautiful Sunset in Ventura, California

One thing that you can always count on when visiting California is experiencing some of the most vibrant and brilliant sunsets imaginable. This was certainly the case when we visited Ventura, California. The sunset off the beach was so incredible that I was able to capture a number of amazing photographs. This sunset photo is definitely one of my top travel photos of this past year. You can see the surfers trying to get in as many waves as they can before the sun sets behind the horizon.

California Sunset Dreaming

This is another photograph that I took of the same sunset that I am equally as proud of. You can see the young family at the bottom of the screen out on the beach enjoying the incredible view. If I had the time, I would try and spend every evening chasing sunsets as it often produces some of the top travel photos and most memorable shots. If you would like to learn how to predict when there will be an amazing sunrise or sunset to photograph, I have included a guide that you can review below.

Exploring the Porcupine Mountains

As the calendar year turned to Summer in the Midwest United States, it was time for me to head to the Great Lakes to embark on what has become a yearly tradition for me. Each summer, I try and seek out some of the best kayaking destinations to explore. This year, one of the destinations that I chose to explore was the beautiful Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. These rolling hills (I wouldn’t actually call them mountains) are absolutely beautiful and have some really fantastic hiking trails for visitors to explore. I love this shot that I was able to get that shows the mountains with Lake Superior in the distance.

Beautiful Bond Falls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

One of the best parts about the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is all of the incredible waterfalls in the area. One of my favorites to visit when I am in the area is the beautiful Bond Falls, which is located just outside of the park. I was able to capture this beautiful photograph of the falls with the reflection in the water on my visit this past summer. Such a beautiful place.

Breathtaking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Without a doubt, the hallmark of my summer kayaking trip was a visit to the infamous Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. If you love to kayak, then Pictured Rocks is an absolute must-visit destination. It is home to some of the best big freshwater kayaking in North America. It is also where I took some of my top travel photos of the year. The huge rock cliffs that highlight this spectacular coastline are amazing to explore from the water. You can also hike along the top of the cliffs to get a bird’s eye view of this dramatic coastline. I absolutely love this shot that I got when I hiked the Mosquito Beach and Chapel Beach loop this summer.

Kayaking Fun at Pictured National Lakeshore

While there might be some wonderful hiking trails at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the claim to fame for this coastline is the spectacular giant coastal cliffs. One of the most popular ways to see and experience these cliffs is to get out on the water in a kayak and explore the coastline. That is exactly what I did this summer, and the experience is one that I will not soon forget. This photograph of our group kayaking thru the large archway on the coastline is one of my top travel photos of the year for sure. For more information on how to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and get out on the water and kayak this amazing coastline, please see my Definitive Pictured Rocks Travel Guide linked below.

Pictured Rocks Kayaking Adventure

While the kayaking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was cool enough, having the opportunity to do so around sunset just added to this magical experience. As I have mentioned many times on my blog, photographing around sunset or early morning around sunrise are my favorite times of day to take pictures. This shot that I got on the back end of my Pictured Rocks Kayaking adventure is one of my favorites because the soft light of the evening gives the picture a warm glow. What an amazing moment to capture!

Exploring Leprechaun Canyon

My last big trip of the year was to Southern Utah and without a doubt, this trip ended up delivering some of my top travel photos of the year. Southern Utah is such a magical place, which is why I keep getting drawn back there to explore and photograph. On this trip, I was determined to discover some of the lesser-known spots in Southern Utah and explore them so that I could share them with you. One of these places was the beautiful Leprechaun Canyon Slot. I have explored several breathtaking slot canyons in my travel adventures, and Leprechaun Canyon ranks right up there with some of the most beautiful. However, the best part about Leprechaun Canyon is that it is not nearly as busy or crowded as some of the other slot canyons in Southern Utah. As you can see in this photograph of me, we have the canyon all to ourselves.

Exploring the Amazing Goblin Valley State Park

While Southern Utah’s five national parks may get most of the attention, the area is also home to some truly spectacular state parks for visitors to enjoy as well. Without a doubt, one of the most incredible state parks to visit in Southern Utah is the beautiful Goblin Valley State Park. Much like the nearby Bryce Canyon National Park, the Goblin Valley State Park is known for its incredible canyons filled with amazing rock formations. I love this photograph that I took in Goblin Valley because it showcases both the area’s vastness and beauty.

The Beauty of Goblin Valley State Park

Like most places in Southern Utah, the beauty of Goblin Valley State Park is only enhanced as the sun starts to set. I absolutely love the glow in this photograph that I took of the breathtaking rock formations in the valley that make Goblin Valley State Park such a treasured destination. It almost feels like you are walking on the planet Mars when the sun starts to set and the red rock formations in the valley start to glow with the setting sun. It’s a stunning time to see the park!

A Monument Valley Sunset at Forrest Gump Point

Not only is this photograph of Monument Valley one of my top travel photos of 2021, but it is also one of my favorite photographs that I have ever taken in Southern Utah. If this landscape looks familiar, it is probably because it has been showcased in a large number of movies throughout the years. Most famously, this exact spot was showcased in the 1990’s classic “Forrest Gump”, starring Tom Hanks. If you don’t recall the scene, this is where Forrest Gump abruptly stops his cross-country run and decides to go home. It is a beautiful viewpoint of a breathtaking landscape. I love the glowing sunset sky in this shot I was able to capture at Forrest Gump Point this past autumn.

The Beautiful Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon

This photograph that I took of the incredible Alstrom Point in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Southern Utah could have made my list of the top travel photos of 2021 for me simply because it is a destination that I have tried to reach at least a handful of times in the past and failed. I simply never had enough time and the correct vehicle to reach this viewpoint before. This past autumn I was bound and determined to get there, so I set aside a large portion of an afternoon and made sure I had a high clearance 4×4 vehicle with me. Needless to say, getting there still wasn’t easy and involved white knuckle driving on an unimproved road at night, but I was able to finally capture some long-desired photographs of Alstrom Point like this beauty here.

Posing for a Picture at Alstrom Point

This sunset photograph that I was able to take of myself at the incredible Alstrom Point in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is one of my favorite self-portraits of all time. I am absolutely obsessed with the breathtaking viewpoints in Southern Utah and Alstrom Point is one of the most beautiful and difficult to reach. The fact I was able to make it there this year and get this photograph makes me so very happy!

An Amazing Sunrise at Reflection Canyon

For years, the favorite photograph that I have ever taken was one that I took early on in my adventure travels of the incredible Morraine Lake near Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. While I still absolutely cherish that photograph, I may have a new all-time favorite picture. Never before in my adventure travels have I had to work so hard to get a photograph. To get this beautiful sunrise shot of Reflection Canyon in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Southern Utah I had to drive 2.5-hours a mere 50-miles down an unimproved road, hike roughly 18-miles on an unmarked trail thru slot canyons and deep washes, and camp out overnight in 28-degree Fahrenheit temperatures to be ready to capture this photograph. After seeing how it turned out, it was so worth it!

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Published by Josh Hewitt

Avid traveler and photographer who loves to see new places, meet new people, and experience new things. There is so much this world can teach us, we just need to explore! View all posts by Josh Hewitt

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9 comments ›.

These are great photos!

Thank you so much Laci!! 😄

That Sunrise At Reflection Canyon is one of the most beautiful photos I’ve ever seen. And what an amazing place.

Thank you so very much Coral!! You made my day!! 😃

• A Look at My 2022 Travel Adventure Bucket List January 5, 2022 • 8:31 am

Best photos.

Thank you so very much!!!

• A Look at My 25 Top Travel Photos of 2022 January 25, 2023 • 12:01 pm
• A Look Back at My 20 Top Travel Photos of 2023 December 18, 2023 • 8:23 pm

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Thanks so much for the kind words Nick!!

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80 Gorgeous Travel Photos from Around the World

L et’s begin our world tour with one of the most magnificent and mysterious wonders of the world: The Sphynx, also known as the Sphynx of Giza. Located near Cairo, Egypt and not far from the Nile River, the Sphynx is an enormous limestone statue of the mythical creature that has the head of a human and the body of a lion. No one really can say what it’s meant to depict or even how old it actually is. Here are 10 more ancient mysteries researchers still haven’t been able to solve.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

Built as burial shrine to the Pharaoh Khufu (who reigned from 2589 to 2566 B.C.), the oldest and largest of Egypt’s great pyramids (located within sight distance of the Sphynx) is the Great Pyramid of Giza. Its sheer enormity is mysterious enough, but it continues to astound in new ways as more archeological discoveries about it are made. The Great Pyramid ranks as one of Earth’s most mysterious archeological treasures.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous ancient archaeological sites in the world. Located on a limestone hill high above Athens, Greece, the Acropolis has been a home to kings (as well as the mythological home to Greek gods), a citadel, and the Parthenon temple, which still stands today. Sadly, it’s also been a target of vandalism, but it still stands, reminding the world of Greece’s rich ancient history. Don’t miss these jaw-dropping photos of the world’s most beautiful countries .

Nemea, Greece

The ancient Greek stadium of Nemea, southwest of Athens, is another remarkable ancient site. It’s home to the Sanctuary of Zeus.  Experts swear by these travel pillows–  buy one before your next flight.

Mount Nemrut, Eastern Turkey

Crowning one of the highest peaks of the Eastern Taurus mountain range in southeastern Turkey, Nemrut Dağ is the tomb built in the 1st century B.C. by King Antiochus I of Commagene as a monument to himself, according to the United Nation’s World Heritage Convention .

Machu Picchu

Another of the world’s manmade wonders, Machu Picchu, located in Peru, is believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders, according to History.com . After the Incan civilization was destroyed by the Spanish in the 1500s, Machu Picchu lay undiscovered and unknown except by locals until 1911, despite that this monument to ancient life in Peru stretches over five miles and features more than 3,000 stone steps. Some say it’s “overrated,” but we’re guessing it’s worth your time, and here are 49 other contenders for the world’s most overrated tourist attraction.

Easter Island

Easter Island covers roughly 64 square miles in the South Pacific and is located some 2,300 miles from Chile’s west coast and 2,500 miles east of Tahiti, explains History.com . Although it was known as Rapa Nui to its earliest inhabitants, the island became known as “Easter Island” after Dutch explorers discovered it on Easter of 1722. Annexed by Chile in the late 19th century, it’s famous for its 900 some-odd giant stone carvings—buried up to their necks in the ground. Why that is, and how they got there, remains a mystery, although scientists have theories.

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is not a single wall, but rather a series of walls and forts, totaling 13,000 miles in length. Located in northern China, it’s one of China’s most iconic and recognized symbols. Ordered to be built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the third century B.C., the wall was intended to prevent invasions, according to History.com . The best-preserved section was built between the 14th and 17th centuries A.D. during the Ming Dynasty.

The Roman Colosseum

Also known as the Roman Coliseum, or Flavian Amphitheater, this massive stone amphitheater is believed to have been commissioned by Emporer Vespasian as a gift to the Roman people in the first century A.D. It was first used for watching gladiators in combat. Having fallen into disrepair by the 5th century, it was used as a source of building materials in the 1700s. Although a full two-thirds of the Colosseum was destroyed over time, the amphitheater remains an iconic symbol of the Roman Empire.

Citadel of Qaitbay

The Citadel of Qaitbay is a fort that was built to protect from invasion by the Sultan Qaitbay in the late 15th century in Alexandria, Egypt. It’s adjacent to the lighthouse of Alexandria, another wonder of the ancient world. Buried beneath the sea nearby is the sunken palace of Cleopatra, one of the creepiest things found at the bottom of the world’s oceans .

Althorp Estate, England

The Althorp Estate, sitting on 13,000 acres of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and Norfolk, in England is the ancestral home of the Princess Diana’s family, the Spencers. After Princess Diana’s tragic death in 1997, she was buried on a tiny island in a lake on the property.

The Western Wall of Jerusalem

The Western Wall , located in Jerusalem, is also known as the Wailing Wall and is one of the last remaining walls of the ancient Jewish Temple , which was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans. Although the wall itself wasn’t originally a particularly important part of the temple, it’s now considered a holy place by Jews and non-Jews alike, who come from all over the world to pray, meditate, and leave handwritten prayers in crevices of the wall.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral, is one of the world’s most famous cathedrals. It was designed and built during the Middle Ages on the ruins of two earlier churches and is considered one of the greatest examples of French Gothic architecture. On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out in the cathedral, damaging its famed latticework roof and spire. The process to rebuild it is underway. Along with the Eiffel Tower, it’s one of Paris’s most well-known landmarks—here are 19 mind-blowing facts about the Eiffel Tower.

Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Kazakhstan

The Hazrat Sultan Mosque is the second largest mosque in all of East Asia. It was completed in 2012 and is designed in classic Islamic style with traditional Kazakh ornaments and decorative elements.

The Erta Ale Volcano

Discovered in the 1960s and still active, the Erta Ale volcano is known for its persistent lava lake. Although visitor numbers have increased significantly over the past years, the volcano is considered a risky travel destination both because of volcanic activity and political unrest in the area. Don’t be disappointed, you can still visit these 13 active volcanos around the globe.

Hot spring in Iceland

This hot spring near Eyja- og Miklaholtshreppur in Iceland is a prime example of the almost unfathomable and peculiar beauty of hot springs (springs made of water that’s been heated by subterranean volcanic activity). Iceland’s also home to the Blue Lagoon hot spring, which is incredibly beautiful, and in fact, one of the world’s most beautiful hot springs .

A beach in Sweden

If you’ve never been to Sweden, you might be surprised to find solid rock rather than sand beneath your feet. Go in the summer and you’ll be able to enjoy nearly 24 hours of daylight.

Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland lies on the edge of the Antrim Plateau between Causeway Head and Benbane Head (northeast of Londonderry). Here you’ll find some 40,000 of these naturally-formed basalt pillars, some as tall as 82 feet high, each jutting out of the cliff faces, forming what looks like a staircase into the sea.

Mount Everest

In this photo, a Nepalese man runs with his national flag during a marathon race commemorating the first successful ascent up Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay in May of 1953.

Ice formation in the mountains of Slovenia

This photo shows the effects of an ice storm on a perfectly ordinary pine tree in the Dinaric Alps in Slovenia. The Dinaric Alps are a mountain range in Southern and Southeastern Europe, separating the Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea. They stretch all the way from Italy through Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Albania.

Slovenia’s heart-shaped road

Herzerlstraße’—a heart-shaped road amidst lush vineyards—is a man-made wonder in the tiny country of Slovenia.

White Cliffs of Dover

Around 70 million years ago, the part of Great Britain known now as the White Cliffs of Dover was submerged beneath a shallow sea whose bottom was made of chalk, according to the Dover Museum . “Since the time of the chalk sea, the chalk has been lifted out of the water by movements of the earth’s crust.” The White Cliffs of Dover are now an iconic sight along England’s eastern shoreline.

Dragonsblood Trees in Socotra

According to the Global Trees Campaign , Dragonsblood Trees grow in only one place in the world: the island of Socotra, 250 miles off the coast of Yemen. The otherworldy tree is revered for its red resin, also known as “cinnabar.” Like these trees, these 20 arrestingly beautiful photos have stood the test of time .

Turquoise blue with salt crystals jutting out of it, the Dead Sea , located in both Jordan and Israel, is the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea’s extremely salty waters and mineral-rich mud are world famous for being therapeutic, and the water’s so buoyant, it’s almost impossible not to float.

Great Barrier Reef

Visit Queensland, Australia to see this view of the breakwaters rising near the edge of the continental shelf of the Agincourt Reefs in person. The coral reef is endangered; here are 14 more places to visit before they disappear .

Niagara Falls

Niagra Falls is always spectacular, but not always as deserted as on this winter morning when this photo was taken.

Gocta Waterfall

This Peruvian waterfall, known as Gocta Waterfall , is 2,529 feet high—at one point it was considered the third highest waterfall in the world, but it’s now ranked as 15th. It was discovered only recently, in 2002, by the German explorer Stefan Ziemendorff.

Loch Ard Gorge

The Loch Ard Gorge in Victoria, Australia was named for a ship that sank nearby, according to Visit Melbourne . The Loch Ard was a clipper ship bound for Melbourne from England that sailed on March 2, 1878, and sank three months later. Only two people survived, a 15-year-old boy named Tom and a 17-year-old girl named Eva, and the two rock pillars are named for them.

Shipwreck of the Elviscot

The Elviscot sank in the 1970s near Pomente, Elba Island, Italy. It’s not far from the beach, in water that’s only 52 feet deep, making it a popular diving destination. Discover the most incredible undersea treasures ever found.

Shipwreck of the SS Thistlegorm

Another shipwreck, the SS Thistlegorm, which sank in 1941 in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, has become a favorite of aquatic life—swimming inside the cargo hold is a school of Vanikoro Sweepers.

Penguins in Antarctica

The Adelie penguins might be clumsy on land, but when hunting—or being hunted—in the water, they can swim up to 9.3 miles per hour. These 15 adorable photos of penguins will melt your heart .

Bats in Indonesia

Here we see hundreds of bats sleeping in a cave above the altar of what is appropriately known as the Temple of Bats in Bali, Indonesia.

Zebras and ostriches in Namibia

This photo of zebras drinking with ostriches at a waterhole was taken in Etosha National Park in Namibia. These 60 cute photos of animals will make your day.

Whale in Argentina

This whale gliding in the waters of the Peninsula Valdez, in Patagonia, Argentina is a Southern Right Whale that migrates each year from Antarctica to give birth and feed its young.

Red Kangaroo in New South Wales

Here, a young red kangaroo stands at the edge of a watering hole in New South Wales, Australia. Red kangaroos hop on their hind legs at speeds of over 35 miles per hour. They are native to Australia’s deserts and grasslands, and when they gather, it’s a “mob.” Literally. Check these other hilariously names for groups of animals.

Ayers Rock in Australia

Ayers Rock is located in the Northern Territory of Australia, which is part of the Australian Outback (the remote parts of Australia that are largely unpopulated except by native tribes). The Aboriginals call the rock “Uluru” and believe it is magical. Surprisingly, it’s not one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia.

A lone cable drum on a remote beach in Norway

About 600 miles south of the North Pole, Northern Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers, frozen tundra, reindeer, arctic fox, and polar bears. Here is an incredibly lonely and haunting photo of a lone cable drum that somehow washed ashore on a Northern Svalbard beach.

Ndebele woman

Traveling the world, you’ll come across people who look completely different from the people you know. For example, this photo, taken in South Africa, is of a woman from the Ndebele tribe  wearing her tribe’s traditional dress and neckwear.

A reveler at the Cologne Carnival in Germany

A traditional reveler at the traditional Cologne Carnival  in Cologne Germany celebrates in front of the Cologne Cathedral.

Carnival, Les Cayes, Haiti

Carnival performers parade in the streets of Les Cayes, during Haiti’s three-day Carnival festivities. Check out these hidden gems in every state .

The Ganges River

The Hindu culture sees the Ganges River, which flows through India and Bangladesh, as a holy place. Here, a couple performs a ritual on the first day of the nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri.

A Buddhist monk in Myanmar

Buddhism in Myanmar (formerly, Burma) is practiced by 90 percent of the country’s population. Pictured here is a Buddhist monk at a Myanmar monastery.

Maori man in New Zealand

Descended from Polynesian settlers who arrived in New Zealand before 1,000 AD, the Maoris had formed a unique culture by the end of the 1800s. One facet of that culture is body art. Maori tattoos are called moko and are known for their fine artistry.

Children playing in South Sudan

South Sudan, located in East-Central Africa, was formed in 2011 from the Republic of Sudan, making it the youngest officially recognized country in the world. Here, children from the village of Torit, South Sudan are shown at play. These are the most colorful natural wonders on earth .

Nuiqsut boy

Nuiqsut, Alaska, is a tiny city in northeastern Alaska that was incorporated in 1975. Its population was just under 450 in 2015, and its economy is based primarily on subsistence hunting, fishing, and whaling.

Pygmy woman holding a young child

This Pygmy woman and child were photographed in the Central African Republic. Pygmies are traditionally hunter-gatherers living in the rainforests throughout central Africa.

The Meeting of the Waters

Called the Encontro das Aguas , the Meeting of Waters goes on for several miles outside the Brazilian city of Manaus. The phenomenon happens as the warm waters of the Rio Negro combine with the cool water of the Rio Solimões. Don’t miss these 15 unexplained mysteries of the Amazon River.

Sunrise at Stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the world’s most mysterious archeological treasures, which makes it a magical, albeit crowded, place to celebrate the summer solstice. Go a month later, and you’ll have the whole place to yourself.

Burning Man

Burning Man is a massive art festival that takes place annually in the Nevada desert. Every year, thousands gather to create “Black Rock City,” a temporary city devoted to “radical self-expression.”

Israel Midburn Festival

The Israeli version of Burning Man is the Israel Midburn Festival in the Negev Desert.

One of the world’s largest saunas, Norway

Who doesn’t love a good sauna? And in case you need a reason to go to one, here are the health benefits of sauna-ing . But did you know that one of the world’s largest saunas sits on a beach in Sandhornøya, Norway?

Ice hotel, Sweden

The Icehotel in Norrbotten County, Sweden is open year-round, even in summer.

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

These “supertrees” can be found in Gardens by the Bay,  Singapore’s huge botanical garden that is one of Asia’s foremost garden destinations.

Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia

Pictured is the incredible canopy walk in the rainforest at Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia. It’s one of the world’s longest canopy walks.

The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen, Denmark

At Langelinje Pier you will find one of Copenhagen’s most famous tourist attractions: The sculpture of The Little Mermaid, according to Visit Copenhagen . Unveiled in August 1913, the statue was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen and was inspired by the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale of the same name.

Ophelia sculpture, Melbourne

This unique and colorful artwork in Victoria, Austalia is a depiction of the Shakespeare character, Ophelia.

The Iditarod dog sled race

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a 1,049-mile trek through some of the most extreme wilderness in the nation. The first one was held in 1973. This photo was taken during this year’s race and shows the dogs of Montana musher Brett Bruggeman.

Illulisat, Greenland

Illulisat is the home of the Jakobshavn Glacier , which is the largest glacier outside Antarctica. Many people assume that Greenland is nothing more than a sheet of ice. But this adorable home says otherwise.

Irish farmland

A lot of the Irish countryside looks like an elaborate patchwork quilt of green, like this view of the coastline along the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. The “striping” you see are stone walls that mark off what were once property lines between farms.

Cottage, County Clare, Ireland

This thatched-roof cottage can be seen in County Clare, Ireland.

Cape Cod Cottage, in North Truro, Massachusetts

The classic “Cape Cod”-style house, a small, wood-shingled structure with a steeply gabled roof and dormer windows, originated in where else? Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Cape Cod is instantly recognizable to anyone who’s ever been there by its incredible sweeping sand dunes.

Tromso Norway

Here’s a view of traditional wooden Norwegian huts along in Tromso, Norway.

Houses in Nyhavn, Denmark

These houses along the Nyhavn waterfront of Copenhagen are decorated for Christmas. Stay for December 31 and experience Denmark’s “lucky” New Year’s tradition.

The Breakers mansion, Newport, Rhode Island

If you’re thinking of visiting iconic homes from around the world, you won’t want to miss The Breakers, the mansion built for the Vanderbilt family in Newport, Rhode Island. The Breakers is the most famous home in Rhode Island—find out the most famous house in your state .

Imperial Palace, Beijing, China

The Imperial Palace, located in Beijing China, is the largest palace in the world.

Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France

Just a few hours drive from Paris, the Loire Valley offers numerous castles and vineyards. This 16th-century castle spans the River Cher and in 1560 was home to the first every fireworks display in France. The structure is one of the three castles you can tour with European day tour operator City Wonders on their Loire Valley Castles & Wine Tasting from Paris .

Istana Nurul Iman Palace, Brunei

The largest residential palace in the world is the Istana Nurul Iman Palace, which is the home of the Sultan of Brunei.

The Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Italy

As far as art destinations go, the Sistine Chapel may very well be the jewel on the crown of our planet. Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco, painted for Pope Julius II between 1508 and 1512, famously depicts the Creation of the World and the Fall of Man.

Trafalgar, Santorini, Greece

The picture-perfect island of Santorini is nicknamed the “precious gem of the Aegean.” You can explore this paradise on your own or sign up with a guided vacation company like Trafalgar, which stops here on its 12-day Best of Greece trip. Either way, you’ll love the iconic whitewashed villages, swimming in the glistening blue waters and gazing at unforgettable Greek sunsets.

Venice, Italy

This photo is of San Marco Canal with the Campanile on San Marco Square in Venice. Nearby, you’ll find the village of Burano, one of the 11 most colorful towns in the world.

Wuzhen Water Town, Zhejiang Province, China

The Wuzhen Water Town of the Zhejiang Province in China is dubbed “The Venice of China” because of its graceful water town scenery.

Cathedral Square, Havana, Cuba

Tourists visit Cathedral Square as a cat lays under the sun in Havana, Cuba.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, the 14th largest city in the European Union, and the historical capital of what was once the country of Bohemia.

The New York City skyline

This view of New York City’s famous skyline is seen from across the Hudson River in Weehawken, New Jersey. Discover the hidden New York City gems that even New Yorkers don’t know about.

The Bean, Chicago

Let’s not forget Chicago’s magnificent skyline, which is uniquely reflected here in Chicago’s Bean sculpture, officially called Cloud Gate.

Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

We’re not in the city anymore as we visit Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia, Canada. This fishing village (notice the lobster traps) stands on the province’s Lighthouse Route and is a popular tourist destination.

Champillon, Champagne, France

France’s celebrated Champagne region is a UNESCO World Heritage site; the structures belong to the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa , where you can take in views of the vineyards that stripe the hills of Épernay and the villages of Champillon and Hauviller. It’s all just 45 minutes by train from Paris.

Tuna Auction in Tokyo, Japan

Speaking of fish, pictured here is a Tuna Auction taking place at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, Japan. The tuna in the photo is priced at ¥30.4 million, or over $270,000!

Signs in Key West, Florida

This “intersection” is at the southernmost point in the entire United States, and the signs provide “directions” and actual distances to many other locales all over the world. These are ten more of the craziest, most extreme travel destinations on the planet.

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12 awe-inspiring landscape photos showing off Earth’s beauty

We're biased, but our planet is seriously beautiful.

By PopSci Staff | Published Apr 13, 2024 8:14 AM EDT

• Environment

The black sands of Iceland, snow-packed peaks of Chile, and burnt-orange sand dunes of Namibia : The natural scenery images from the 2024 Sony World Photography Awards document the wild, extraordinary, and intimidating beauty of Earth.

Photographer Liam Man nabbed top honors in the landscape category for an otherworldly drone -lit shot snapped in the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The photo (seen below) required precise timing and coordination to pull off. “Blizzards howled for the majority of the night,” Man said, “leaving mere minutes to execute this photograph before the moon became too bright.”

The overall winner from all categories will be announced on April 18 in London. More than 395,000 images from photographers around the globe were submitted as part of this year’s competition.

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Pope Will Travel to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore in Longest Trip of Papacy

The Vatican says Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore in September

Andrew Medichini

FILE -Pope Francis waves as he leaves after his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore in September, the Vatican announced Friday, April 12 ,2024, confirming the longest trip of Francis’ papacy that is sure to test his health, stamina and mobility. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore in September, the Vatican announced Friday, confirming the longest trip of Francis’ papacy that is sure to test his health, stamina and mobility.

The Vatican confirmed the Sept. 2-13 visit, saying the 87-year-old pope would visit Jakarta, Indonesia; Port Moresby and Vanimo, Papua New Guinea; Dili, East Timor; and Singapore. Further details will be announced later.

Francis' health has become a source of increasing concern and speculation, even though the pontiff is able to carry on with a rigorous schedule of meetings at the Vatican and even excursions to local parishes.

Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, had to cancel a planned visit to Dubai late last year after he came down with a bad case of bronchitis. He suffered from respiratory problems all winter and had to curtail his participation in Holy Week events to save his energy for Easter.

Francis has also been using a wheelchair for nearly two years because of bad knee ligaments, and has said that traveling has become increasingly more difficult.

And yet at 11 days, the trip would be the longest of Francis’ papacy, outpacing by a few days some of his long trips to the Americas early on in his 11-year papacy. It will bring the Argentine Jesuit to the world’s most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia, as well as the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, where the Catholic Church wields enormous influence.

Photos You Should See - April 2024

There is also a chance of another leg to the trip being added later: This week, the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, was in Vietnam and discussed a papal visit, Vatican News reported, without providing details.

In a statement announcing the visit, the Indonesian foreign ministry welcomed the visit and recalled that it had originally been scheduled for 2020 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia holds significant importance to the Indonesian people, not only for Catholics but also for all religious communities. The visit is also expected to strengthen the message of tolerance, unity and world peace,” the statement said.

Indonesia is home to roughly 242 million Muslims and 29 million Christians — 8.5 million of whom are Catholics — according to a 2022 report by the Religious Affairs Ministry.

East Timor, which today has a population of about 1.2 million people, is Southeast Asia’s only predominantly Christian nation with the exception of the Philippines. According to the 2015 census, 97.6% of East Timor’s population is Catholic.

The visit to East Timor will likely reignite attention over a clergy sex abuse scandal involving its revered independence hero and Nobel Peace Prize winner. The Vatican confirmed in 2022 that it had sanctioned Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo following allegations that he sexually abused boys there during the 1990s. Belo is believed to now be living in Portugal.

Francis will be the first pope to visit Papua New Guinea since St. John Paul II went there in 1984. The country, in a strategically important part of the South Pacific, has struggled with tribal violence and civil unrest.

John Paul also visited Singapore, in 1986. The country today is home to 395,000 Catholics and Francis in 2022 made its archbishop Singapore's first cardinal.

In a statement welcoming the visit, Cardinal William Goh, said it “will bring renewed fervor to all Catholics in Singapore, uniting them in faith and mission, especially in these most challenging of times.”

The Vatican has planned only one other papal trip this year — to Belgium to celebrate the anniversary of the country’s Catholic university. Francis has also said he wants to return to his native Argentina , but no plans or dates have been announced.

Karmini contributed from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Israel Reports Light Damage After Iran Launches Large Strike

Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel overnight. The U.S. military shot dozens of them down, but most were intercepted by Israel’s military.

• Share full article

Follow live updates on the crisis in the Middle East .

Aaron Boxerman ,  Ronen Bergman ,  Farnaz Fassihi and Eric Schmitt

Here are the latest developments.

Iran mounted an immense aerial attack on Israel on Saturday night, launching more than 300 drones and missiles in retaliation for a deadly Israeli airstrike in Syria two weeks ago, and marking a significant escalation in hostilities between the two regional foes.

The strikes caused only minor damage to one Israeli military base, and most of the airborne threats were intercepted, Israeli military officials said. The United States said it had helped to shoot dozens of drones and missiles .

But the large-scale attack, aimed at targets inside Israel and the territory it controls, opened a volatile new chapter in the long-running shadow war between Iran and Israel.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said in a statement broadcast on state television that it had launched “dozens of drones and missiles” toward Israel from Iran “in reaction to the Zionist regime’s crimes.” It later said on social media that it had hit military targets in Israel, warned the United States against getting involved, and threatened more strikes if Iran or its interests were hit.

Here’s what we know:

A total of 12 people were brought in to the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel overnight, according to a hospital spokeswoman, Inbar Gutter.

One of the areas targeted was the Golan Heights, a strategic area bordering Syria that Israel annexed nearly 60 years ago. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia backed by Iran, said it had fired dozens of rockets at an Israeli barracks there. But it was not immediately clear if that bombardment was part of the wider Iranian attack.

In the hours after the attacks, as Iranians gathered in Tehran to celebrate them, more air-raid sirens sounded across vast swaths of southern Israel, the West Bank and Golan Heights. The Israeli government also sent out warnings about possible missiles arriving in the Negev Desert, where there are several military bases. And the airspaces of Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon were closed .

President Biden cut short a weekend at his vacation home in Delaware to huddle with his national security team. He also spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting at 4 p.m. on Sunday to discuss Iran’s attacks on Israel, the council’s president said. Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, had requested the meeting.

Gabby Sobelman

In Israel this morning, the domestic news media is airing footage of operations at Ben Gurion Airport, outside Tel Aviv, and of jets returning to an air base in the Negev Desert that the Israeli military says suffered light damage in the Iranian attack. Television anchors are suggesting the footage is a sign that the country is returning to normal.

Airspace closures that went into effect in Israel and Lebanon on Saturday have now expired, and commercial flights have resumed from Tel Aviv, according to Flightradar24, a flight-tracking site. The airspaces of Iraq and Jordan are scheduled to reopen later this morning.

Cassandra Vinograd

A total of 12 people were brought in to the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel overnight, according to a hospital spokeswoman, Inbar Gutter. One — a 7-year-old girl — was seriously injured by missile fragments, taken to the operating room, and is currently in intensive care. Eight other people were treated for minor injuries from shrapnel or running for shelter, while three people were brought in for anxiety.

Isabel Kershner

In his first public response to the overnight Iranian assault, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X on Sunday morning: “We intercepted. We blocked. Together we will win.”

Nearly 99 percent of the aerial threats launched at Israel on Saturday were intercepted, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesman for the military, said during televised remarks. He added that the Nevatim air force base in the Negev desert in southern Israel suffered only light damage and was functioning. “Iran thought it would paralyze the base,” Rear Admiral Hagari said. “It failed.”

Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, warned in a televised statement early Sunday that the confrontation with Iran “is not over yet.” He praised the militaries of Israel and the United States for blocking the Iranian attack, said the defense against the Iranian assault was “a most impressive achievement.”

Israel’s military said its fighter jets struck a number of targets early Sunday in a complex belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces in southern Lebanon. Israeli warplanes struck additional Hezbollah structures during the night, the military said, after Hezbollah sent two explosive drones into Israeli territory on Saturday.

Eric Schmitt

The U.S. defense secretary, a former top Army general, condemned the “reckless and unprecedented attacks” by Iran and its proxies in nearby countries, and he called on Tehran to halt any further strikes. “We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and support the defense of Israel,” he said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said late Saturday that U.S. forces had intercepted “dozens” of missiles and attack drones launched at Israel from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The U.S. military is ready to protect U.S. troops and Israel, he said.

Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the attack on Israel was a “defensive measure” that shows its “responsible approach toward regional and international peace and security.” The aerial assault has drawn condemnation from Israel’s allies and warnings that it risked further escalation in the Middle East.

The Israeli military said in a statement before dawn that its chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, was conducting a situational assessment at military headquarters in Tel Aviv with commanders of the air force as well as the military’s operations and intelligence directorates to discuss the events of the last few hours “as well as plans for the continuation.” No more details were provided.

As dawn broke at about 5:30 a.m., Israeli war planes could be heard in the skies above Jerusalem.

Michael D. Shear

President Biden said he will convene a meeting of the G7 leaders on Sunday to develop what he called “a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.”

President Biden said American military forces helped shoot down Iranian drones and missiles during the attacks Saturday, and said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that the United States will continue to help defend their ally .

Jin Yu Young

The U.N. Security Council will meet on Sunday at 4 p.m. to discuss the situation in the Middle East, said Vanessa Frazier, the president of the Security Council.

Following a letter received from @IsraelinUN ,the Maltese Presidency of the #UNSC has scheduled an open emergency meeting of the Council tomorrow at 4pm under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East” to consider the drone & missile attack by #Iran on #Israel @MFETMalta — Vanessa Frazier 🧡 (@_VanessaFrazier) April 14, 2024

Yara Bayoumy

Two Israeli officials say Iran launched 185 drones and 36 cruise missiles. Most of the launches were from Iran, though a small portion came from Iraq and Yemen. Iran also launched 110 surface-to-surface missiles.

Gaya Gupta and Emma Bubola

The U.S. intercepts dozens of Iranian drones and missiles, a show of commitment to Israel.

The U.S. military said that it had shot down dozens of the drones and missiles that Iran fired at Israel on Saturday, a strong demonstration that despite recent criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, Washington was firmly committed to protecting a key ally from Iran, a mutual adversary.

President Biden said that the United States had “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” in part thanks to aircraft and military ships the Pentagon had moved to the region in the past week.

While Mr. Biden has grown increasingly vocal in his frustration with Israel’s military offensive in Gaza — calling its bombardment there “indiscriminate” and saying that Israel has not done enough to protect Palestinian civilians — he has maintained that when it comes to Iran, the United States’ commitment to Israel is “ironclad.”

“We will support Israel and help defend Israel,” he said, “and Iran will not succeed.”

The United States has consistently affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself, and it has also directly intervened militarily against attacks from Iran’s proxy forces, including the Houthi militia based in Yemen .

This year, the U.S. military carried out strikes against Iranian forces and allied militias in Syria and Iraq in response to a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American soldiers. And in 2020, the United States killed a top Iranian commander , Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, with a drone strike at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that Britain had helped defend Israel against the Iranian attack, saying that Britain’s air force had shot down “a number of Iranian attack drones” and would now work with allies to de-escalate tensions. “What we now need is for calm heads to prevail,” Mr. Sunak told the BBC on Sunday.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, said that Israel had intercepted most of the 200 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles launched by Iran with “some assistance” from its allies. “Over the past six months, we have been operating in close coordination with our partners,” he said, adding, “This partnership has always been robust, but last night it was exceptionally evident.”

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, also condemned Iran’s attack and affirmed support for Israel, writing in a post on X that France was committed “to the security of Israel, our partners, and regional stability.”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, a country that last week had to defend itself against accusations that its arms sales to Israel were abetting genocide in Gaza , called Iran’s attacks “unjustifiable and highly irresponsible.”

“Germany stands by Israel and we will discuss the situation with our allies,” he said in a statement on social media.

The cabinet of Jordan, a staunch critic of Israel’s war effort in Gaza, said on Sunday that its military had shot down aircraft and missiles that entered its airspace during the Iranian attack.

Eric Schmitt , Patrick Kingsley and Farnaz Fassihi contributed reporting.

“If Iran’s objective was to punish and isolate Israel, it appears to have fallen well short of that objective,” said Dana Stroul, formerly the Pentagon’s top Middle East policy official who is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The U.S. and Israeli militaries were able to defend against a complex attack, Stroul said. “Given how significant this attack was, it is difficult to see how Israel cannot respond.”

Christiaan Triebert and Hiba Yazbek

The Times verified the authenticity of several photos and videos showing debris, likely from a missile, in a residential area of Amman, the Jordanian capital. The Times has not been able to identify whether the debris is part of an Iranian missile or an Israeli or Jordanian interceptor missile. Several missiles appear to have been intercepted in the skies above Jordan, according to earlier footage .

Two senior U.S. officials say the preliminary assessment is that the damage to Israel was relatively limited given the scale of the attack.

Farnaz Fassihi

In Tehran, several hundred supporters of the Iranian government gathered in the middle of the night at Palestine Square and in front of Tehran University to celebrate the attacks on Israel, according to witnesses and state media. The crowd chanted “death to Israel” as fireworks went off and praised the commander in chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps for carrying out the attacks.

Alissa J. Rubin

What is the Golan Heights?

One of the areas targeted in Israel during Saturday’s attacks was the Golan Heights, a strategic area bordering Syria that Israel annexed nearly 60 years ago.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia backed by Iran, said in a statement just after midnight that it had fired dozens of rockets at an Israeli barracks in the Golan Heights. It was not immediately clear if that bombardment was part of the wider Iranian attack on Israel.

The Golan Heights has routinely seen conflict since Israel seized it during the 1967 six-day war, occupied it and then annexed much of it in 1981 .

The annexed portion, encompassing nearly 500 square miles, was and remains a militarily strategic perch for Israeli forces, giving them a vantage point and proximity to two of Jerusalem’s chief adversaries: Syria and Lebanon, and especially the armed group Hezbollah, which has forces along the nearby southern and southeastern Lebanese border.

Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights has never been recognized internationally by the United Nations, which condemned i t at the time. When President Donald J. Trump was in power, he said that the United States should recognize the land as Israel’s, but the move was condemned internationally and carried primarily symbolic weight.

Both Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, and armed groups in Syria that are similarly Iranian backed have used the areas along the Lebanese and Syrian borders with the Golan Heights to fire rockets and missiles at Israel.

Iranian officials have signaled that they are looking for a way to deter Israel from another strike like the April 1 bombing in Damascus that killed seven officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and precipitated Iran’s efforts to avenge those deaths by striking Israel.

However, Iranian leaders in private and more obliquely in public have signaled that they do not want to escalate the war, according to Iranian advisers in Tehran and senior security officials in Iraq who are closely allied with Tehran.

That is one reason why Iran might choose to target the Golan Heights. While Israel considers it to be within its borders, internationally it is viewed as Syrian land occupied by Israel. That allows Iran to claim that they are not striking Israel directly — something Israeli leaders have warned them would provoke damaging strikes inside Iran.

A strike on the Golan Heights could also seen by Tehran as a commensurate way to avenge Israel’s strike in Damascus in the same place — or at least the same country.

Israel evacuated Israelis from the Golan Heights area closest to the Lebanese border soon after the war in Gaza began because of cross-border attacks and counterattacks involving Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

The largely desert area now has several Israeli military bases and elsewhere it is relatively thinly populated, with more people in the southern areas, which are better for farming. Once Israel occupied it, the Arab farmers mostly fled and Israel has created a number of settlements there.

Of the more than 50,000 people who live there, barely half are Syrian Druze; almost all the rest are Israeli Jews, who have settled in the area with the government’s support, much as they have in the West Bank.

Euan Ward contributed reporting.

Michael D. Shear ,  Aaron Boxerman and Eric Schmitt

Biden returns to White House as Israel braces for Iranian aerial strikes.

The spokeswoman for the National Security Council at the White House confirmed Saturday evening that Iran had launched what she called “an airborne attack” against Israel and vowed that the United States would help Israel defend itself.

“President Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House,” Adrienne Watson, the spokeswoman, said in a statement.

“This attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours,” she added. “President Biden has been clear: Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”

The statement came as Mr. Biden headed back to the White House Saturday afternoon, cutting short a weekend trip to his vacation home in Rehoboth, Del.

Officials said the president would convene a meeting of his top national security aides in the Situation Room at the White House amid reports from the Middle East that Iran had deployed dozens of drones headed toward Israel.

Earlier in the day, Iranian forces had seized a container ship with links to Israel in the Persian Gulf, as leaders in the Middle East and beyond watched for a sign that Iran had begun an anticipated attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel’s airstrike in Damascus on April 1 that killed several Iranian military officers.

In Washington, Ms. Watson called on Iran to release the vessel and its crew immediately.

“Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law, and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization,” she said in an earlier statement. “It must be condemned unequivocally, and we will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions.”

At the same time, the U.S. secretary of defense, Lloyd J. Austin III, spoke with Israel’s minister of defense, Yoav Gallant, to discuss urgent regional threats and reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Israel’s defense, the Pentagon’s spokesman, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said.

Mr. Austin made clear that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend itself against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies.

“In recent days we have strengthened our defensive and offensive array and we are determined to take any measures required to defend the citizens of the State of Israel,” Mr. Gallant said in a statement.

In Israel, there were signs the country was girding for the expected Iranian assault; the Israeli government barred educational activities, including schools and the youth-movement hiking trips patronized by Israeli teenagers during the Passover holiday. Gatherings were limited to fewer than 1,000 people in most of the country for at least the next two days, the Israeli military’s Home Front Command announced.

Hiba Yazbek and Abu Bakr Bashir

The Israeli military shifts its focus to the central Gaza Strip.

Less than a week after withdrawing ground troops from southern Gaza, the Israeli military has shifted its focus to the central Gaza Strip, where its forces were operating for the third day on Saturday and residents and Palestinian media reported heavy bombardments and intense fighting.

The Israeli military announced on Thursda y that it had begun a “precise operation” in the central Gaza Strip, saying it had carried out airstrikes ahead of its ground troops raiding the area. It added that the Israeli navy had conducted several strikes along the coastline to assist the ground troops.

Residents and Palestinian media said that the Israeli attack seemed to center on the Nuseirat refugee camp in Deir al-Balah, a city in the central Gaza Strip near a narrow Israeli-controlled corridor that splits northern Gaza, including Gaza City, from the rest of the territory.

Though Nuseirat began as a refugee camp for displaced Palestinians in the 1940s, it has been built up over the decades into an urban community.

Wafa, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, reported intense Israeli air raids on Nuseirat for a third consecutive day on Saturday. The Israeli military said in a statement that its troops were continuing their operation in central Gaza and that they had destroyed Hamas “infrastructure” in the area over the last day.

Khalil Farid, 57, who lives in the Nuseirat refugee camp, said in a text-message exchange on Friday that bombing and shelling had not stopped since the Israeli attack began Thursday afternoon. “The army gave no warning of this operation,” he said, adding that “no leaflets were dropped, and no one was told where to go or what to do.”

Mr. Farid said that the fighting appeared to be mostly in the northern part of the New Camp, one of the neighborhoods of Nuseirat where he is staying with nine other family members at his brother’s apartment. “We are all sitting in the living room praying and waiting for our fate,” he said.

Mr. Farid said that after fleeing to the city of Rafah in the south, he and his family had returned to central Gaza because it seemed that the situation in Rafah was not much safer. “Where will we and the others go? There are too many people here,” he said.

The United Nations office for humanitarian affairs said on Friday that three Palestinians were reportedly killed and others were injured when a U.N. school housing displaced people in Nuseirat camp was hit.

The Palestinian civil defense in Gaza said that its rescue crews had received “dozens of distress calls” after an Israeli strike on the school killed and wounded several people, adding that it was unable to evacuate the casualties because it was too dangerous to enter the area.

TRT, the national public broadcaster of Turkey, said on Friday that a cameraman and correspondent were wounded when a group of journalists reporting from Nuseirat were hit by Israeli tank fire. CNN also said that a freelance reporter working for the network was lightly injured in the same attack.

Hamas said in a statement on Friday that the Nuseirat camp, which was “crowded with displaced people from various regions of the strip,” was under “a barbaric attack” that resulted “in dozens of martyrs and wounded.”

Christopher F. Schuetze

Iran seizes a commercial ship linked to Israel.

Iranian forces seized a container ship with links to Israel in the Persian Gulf on Saturday, as leaders in the Middle East and beyond watched for a retaliatory strike by Iran against Israel.

MSC, a major shipping company, said on Saturday that the MSC Aries, which is registered in Portugal, had been boarded by “Iranian authorities” via helicopter as it passed the Strait of Hormuz.

A video shared by Iranian state media showed a military helicopter hovering above what appeared to be the stern of the ship, with at least two soldiers descending a rope onto the deck.

The soldiers were part of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, according to IRNA, the state news agency.

A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, called on Iran to release the vessel and its crew immediately.

“Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law, and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization,” she said in a statement. “It must be condemned unequivocally, and we will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions.”

Though it is operated by MSC, the 1,200-foot cargo vessel belongs to an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, which is part of the Zodiac Group, owned by the Israel-born billionaire Eyal Ofer, making it a possible target for Iranian retaliation. Tehran has vowed a retaliatory strike after blaming Israel for an attack on an Iranian embassy building in Syria that killed 12 people, among them top military generals.

Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign affairs minister, confirmed the seizure on social media and said Iran’s leadership was “a criminal regime that supports Hamas’ crimes and is now conducting a pirate operation in violation of international law.”

Six months after the Hamas attack on Israel that started the war in Gaza, the seizure comes amid fears of a wider conflict involving Iran directly. Iran is a backer of Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, but has so far stayed clear of direct involvement. On Friday, President Biden said that he expected Iran to launch a retaliatory attack “sooner than later,” and reiterated that the United States remained committed to the defense of Israel.

It was not immediately clear if the seizure of the ship was part of Iran’s promised response to the attack in Syria, but it was not the first time Iran had directly seized a commercial vessel. In January, Iran’s navy seized a tanker loaded with oil off the coast of Oman. In that seizure, soldiers also descended from a hovering helicopter.

Before the war in Gaza, the United States said that Iran had “harassed, attacked or interfered” with more than a dozen internationally flagged merchant ships in recent years.

For their part, the Houthis have disrupted a significant part of the world’s shipping by attacking dozens of vessels heading to or from the Suez Canal.

The MSC Aries had 25 crew members on board, according to its operator.

Aaron Boxerman

reporting from Jerusalem

The death of a 14-year-old further inflames tensions in the West Bank.

An Israeli teenager whose disappearance had led to riots by Israeli settlers in the West Bank was found dead on Saturday, the Israeli authorities said, threatening to further inflame tensions in the Israeli-occupied territory.

Dozens of Israelis and Palestinians were wounded during clashes at several locations across the West Bank later on Saturday, the Israeli military said in a statement. Israeli extremists stormed at least two villages in the territory, attempting to burn Palestinian property and clashing with residents, according to Palestinian witnesses.

Binyamin Achimair, 14, had left a farming settlement in the West Bank to herd sheep on Friday morning, but never returned, according to the Israeli police. The Israeli forces later found his corpse, and the military said, without providing evidence, that he had been “murdered in a terrorist attack.”

After Binyamin’s disappearance on Friday, armed Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian village near Ramallah, torching several buildings and cars, according to Palestinian officials and Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group. One Palestinian man — Jihad Abu Aliya — was killed during the clashes and at least 25 others wounded, according to the village mayor, Amin Abu Aliya.

Binyamin’s death and the possibility of further Israeli reprisals could ratchet up violence in the West Bank, where roughly 500,000 Israeli settlers live alongside about 2.7 million Palestinians. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 sparked Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to the United Nations.

The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it would bolster its forces in the West Bank with additional companies and police.

The Israeli mob assaults returned on Saturday in both Al Mughayir and Duma, a nearby Palestinian village, according to an Israeli security official and Palestinian witnesses. Israeli settlers, some of them armed, entered the villages, the official added, and there were reports that they had opened fire.

In Duma, the attackers “covered the entire village,” some of them armed, said Naser Dawabsheh, a village resident. They set several buildings and cars ablaze, sending a cloud of dense smoke overhead, he added. Israeli soldiers “didn’t disperse the settlers, they protected them and fired tear gas at anyone who approached,” he said.

The clashes on Saturday in Al Mughayir left at least three Palestinians wounded, one critically, the Palestinian health ministry said.

“There’s no order, there’s no safety,” said Na’asan Na’asan, 28, a resident of Al Mughayir. “They’re shooting at us — why isn’t there anyone to protect us?”

A veteran Israeli photojournalist, Shaul Golan, 74, said in an interview that Israeli settlers also caught and beat him, before destroying his equipment, after he tried to film them in Al Mughayir. Some of them were masked, while others were wearing Israeli military uniforms, he added.

“I begged the soldiers there to help me, to save me,” said Mr. Golan. “But then I realized that they weren’t really soldiers — they were working with them.”

The Biden administration has said Israel must do more to clamp down on violence by extremist Israeli settlers, and it has imposed sanctions on several whom it said were involved in attacks on Palestinians. Israeli leaders denounced that move as interference in the country’s internal affairs.

As Israeli troops and police officers searched for Binyamin on Friday afternoon, armed Israeli settlers burst into Al Mughayir, setting buildings and cars on fire, said Mr. Abu Aliya. In video circulated by Yesh Din, smoke can be seen billowing from some burning cars and buildings.

In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel decried Binyamin’s “heinous murder” and vowed that Israel would “close accounts” with whoever killed him. He did not explicitly mention the settler rampages, instead telling the Israeli public to “allow the security forces to conduct their work unmolested” as they investigate the killing.

Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s parliamentary opposition, similarly condemned the teenager’s murder. But he also denounced the settler attacks, saying “the violent riots by settlers are a dangerous violation of the law, and they are hampering the forces operating on the ground.”

The Israeli military confirmed that multiple “violent riots” had taken place in the area during the search efforts on Friday. At one point, “rocks were hurled” at Israeli soldiers, leading them to open fire in response, the Israeli military said. The Israeli police and soldiers had also removed Israeli settlers who had entered Al Mughayir, the military said.

Israeli soldiers were in the area “even before the settlers arrived,” Mr. Na’asan said, but did not block them from entering the village and torching buildings and cars. It was not immediately clear how Jihad Abu Aliya, the village resident, was killed.

Human rights groups have long charged that the Israeli authorities do not do enough to prevent violent attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, and that the perpetrators are rarely arrested. An Israeli police spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment as to whether any Israelis had been arrested during the incident.

Last February, an attack by Israeli settlers devastated the Palestinian town of Huwara in the northern West Bank. At least one Palestinian was killed and 390 were wounded in the riot, according to Palestinian officials, in which Israelis burned a number of buildings and cars while terrified Palestinians fled burning homes.

President Biden vows to stand by Israel despite recent disagreements.

President Biden told reporters on Friday that he expected Iran to launch an attack on Israel “sooner than later” as a response to Israel’s killing of several top Iranian generals in a bombing in Syria two weeks ago.

Mr. Biden said he needed to be careful not to reveal classified information being collected by intelligence and military officials as they braced for an attack they believed was imminent. And he had a blunt, succinct answer when he was asked what his message to Iran was.

“Don’t,” he said.

Officials in the United States and other nations are engaged in a furious diplomatic effort to try to prevent a response from Iran that could spiral into a wider war. But Mr. Biden and his top aides have made it clear that their disagreement with Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip would not prevent the United States from defending Israel against attacks from other adversaries.

“We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” Mr. Biden told reporters at the White House after a speech to the National Action Network. “We will support Israel and help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”

He did not specify what actions the United States might take.

John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said earlier on Friday that the administration was taking the threat of an attack seriously.

“We are certainly mindful of a very public — and what we consider to be a very credible — threat made by Iran in terms of potential attacks on Israel,” he said. “We are in constant communication with our Israeli counterparts about making sure that they can defend themselves against those kinds of attacks.”

Mr. Kirby said the U.S. military was making adjustments to its force deployments in the Middle East to be ready in case an attack occurred, but he declined to be specific about those changes.

“We’re also clearly — it would be imprudent if we didn’t — taking a look at our own posture in the region, to make sure that we’re more properly prepared as well,” he said.

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Iran launches retaliatory attack on Israel with hundreds of drones, missiles

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British security firm Ambrey said on Sunday that Israel Defence Forces (IDF) intercepted an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) near Eilat, stating that it assessed the UAV was launched from Yemen.

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Iran launches barrage of strikes toward Israel

By Tori B. Powell , Sophie Tanno, Emma Tucker , Kaanita Iyer , Paul LeBlanc and Adrienne Vogt , Jerome Taylor and James Legge, CNN

Our live coverage of Iran's attack on Israel has moved here .

Iran warns its response will be "stronger and more resolute" if Israel retaliates following latest strikes

From CNN’s Alireza Hajihosseini and Eyad Kourdi

Iran has warned that it will respond with more force if Israel retaliates over this weekend's strikes, which Tehran said were themselves a reply to an Israeli attack earlier this month on its embassy complex in Syria's capital Damascus.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required," Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said in a statement.

Citing self-defense against repeated Israeli military aggressions, Iravani said the strikes were specifically in retaliation to an Israeli attack on April 1 against what Iran says were diplomatic facilities in Damascus.

Iran claims the attack violated international law and led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including key commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The statement also criticizes the United Nations Security Council for “failing to uphold international peace,” allowing Israel to “breach” established international norms and “escalate” regional tensions.

Additional context: Israel has carried out numerous strikes on Iran-backed targets in Syria, often targeting weapons shipments allegedly intended for Hezbollah, a powerful Iranian proxy in Lebanon. 

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the April 1 attack which destroyed an Iranian consulate building in the capital Damascus, including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top Revolutionary Guards commander.

However an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN that their intelligence showed the building was not a consulate and was instead “a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building.”

China expresses 'deep concern', calls for ceasefire

From CNN's Philip Wang and Irene Nasser

China has expressed "deep concern" over the "current escalation" following Iran's attack on Israel, according to a spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, adding that it is a "spillover of the Gaza conflict" and a ceasefire should be implemented without delay.

In a statement, China called "on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations."

"The ongoing situation is the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict," the spokesperson said, adding that a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should be implemented without any more delay.

Beijing did not  name or condemn Hamas  in the wake of the initial October 7 attacks. Since then, it has condemned the war and been a vocal  proponent of an immediate ceasefire  and the implementation of a “two-state” solution.

Last month, Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian met Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, the first meeting between a Chinese and Hamas official publicly acknowledged by Beijing since the outbreak of the  war in Gaza .

Wang’s visit follows efforts by Beijing to step up its profile as a  peace broker in the Middle East conflict.

US forces intercepted 70+ drones and at least three ballistic missiles, US officials say

From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Haley Britzky

US forces intercepted more than 70 one-way attack drones and at least three ballistic missiles during Iran's attack on Israel, according to two US officials familiar with the situation.

The ballistic missiles were intercepted by warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, one of the officials said. Iran launched more than 100 ballistic missiles in total at Israel, according to a senior administration official.

The US Navy currently has two destroyers in that area, both are guided missile destroyers capable of intercepting missile and drone launches.

US fighter jets were also part of the response to Iran’s attack on Saturday and shot down drones launched towards Israel, another US official told CNN.

Biden to meet with G7 leaders Sunday as he condemns Iran's "brazen attack"

From CNN’s Lauren Koenig

US President Joe Biden will meet with G7 leaders Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” according to a statement released by the White House. 

“My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders,” the statement from Biden reads. “And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.”

US defensive assets moved to the region earlier this week and “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” according to the statement.

Biden also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu following Saturday’s attack “to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.” 

United Airlines cancels three Middle East flights

From CNN’s Sara Smart

At least three United Airlines flights headed to or departing from the Middle East have been canceled amid the ongoing conflict unfolding between Iran and Israel.

On Saturday a flight from Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv, a flight from Washington D.C. to Amman, Jordan, and one from Dubai to Newark were canceled, the airline told CNN in a statement.

There have been no changes to any Sunday flights for United as of Saturday night, according to the airline. 

CNN has reached out to other airlines regarding cancellations.

Biden told Netanyahu US will not participate in offensive operations against Iran, US official says

From CNN's MJ Lee

The US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, US President Joe Biden has made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior administration official told CNN.

The comments were relayed during the phone call that the two leaders shared in the aftermath of Iran's retaliatory strikes against Israel.

Biden tells Netanyahu tonight was a win, nothing of "value" hit in Israel, US official says 

Israel should consider tonight a win because the current US assessment is that Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, President Joe Biden told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their phone call, a senior administration official told CNN.

The US’s assessment tonight was that almost all of the drones and missiles – including more than 100 ballistic missiles -- launched by Iran had been knocked out of the sky. No cruise missile made impact, the official said, and nothing of “value” was hit. 

Bolton: 'Passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake'

From CNN's Heather Chen

John Bolton, the former US national security adviser and ambassador to the UN, said “passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake,” warning of more attacks. 

“This is not time to play academic games and message and signal. This is a question of power,” Bolton told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. "If they came from a different location containing nuclear warheads, Israel might not be so lucky.”

A known Iran policy hawk, Bolton served in senior national security positions during the Trump and Bush administrations. A neoconservative, Bolton has in the past advocated war with Iran and a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.

In 2022, he was the target of an alleged assassination attempt orchestrated by a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

He has warned against underestimating Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran has said is for peaceful purposes only.

“I think we have enough experience with faulty intelligence by now, not to be so sure, not to know how much of Iran’s uranium enrichment program is really being conducted under a mountain in North Korea,” Bolton said.

If Tehran sent “a wire transfer to Pyongyang,” it would give the North Koreans “enough time to put a couple of warheads on an airplane and fly them to Tehran. (But) if you take away their nuclear capability, that would be a dramatic hit to the regime, maybe enough to topple it.”

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