GPS disabled as Israel raises alert over Iran threat
By Hugo Bachega in Jerusalem, and Sean Seddon
GPS is being blocked across swathes of Israel in order to disrupt missiles and drones, as tensions rise with Iran.
Iran has vowed to respond after a strike on its consulate building in Syria on Monday – which Israel was widely believed to be behind – killed 13 people, including a senior general.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also announced it was halting all leave for soldiers serving with combat units.
It comes a day after reservists were called up to bolster air defence units.
Israeli authorities seem to believe an Iranian response is imminent and could come as soon as Friday, which is Quds Day – or Jerusalem Day – the last Friday in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
It is a day which has frequently been used to stage pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel rallies, particularly in Iran.
On Thursday, GPS systems were being disrupted in central parts of Israel, a defensive measure designed to interfere with weapons which rely on it to set their location.
Israeli citizens reported being unable to use location-based app services in major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem far from active combat zones.
