Israel was on high alert late Saturday and convened a War Cabinet meeting after Iran launched dozens of drones toward Israel just days after officials predicted an attack, Israel's military said late Saturday.

President Biden was meeting with national security aides in the Situation Room to discuss the conflict, an official told CNN.

Israeli media outlets were reporting that cruise missiles had also been launched, and that public shelters were being set up in the northern city of Haifa. 

In the "event of an alarm" regarding bombing some train stations will also be opened as shelters, said a statement frtom the city of Haifa, CNN reported.

The Transportation Ministry announced that Israel will close its airspace beginning at 12:30 a.m. local time. Lebanon also closed its airspace.

All schools and camps were also shut in Israel.

It could take hours for the drones to reach the country, and the military is tracking their progress, officials said. Military leaders are hoping to intercept the drones before they reach Israel.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement read on Iranian state TV Saturday that it had launched "extensive drone strikes against targets in occupied territories," meaning Israel.

The statement called it a "response to the Zionist regime's crime in attacking the consular section of the Iranian embassy." and repeated that it had launched dozens of "drones — and missiles."

An attack by Iran had been anticipated as early as Friday or Saturday by Israel and its allies in retaliation for an attack on Syria two weeks ago that killed 13 people. Israel has not claimed responsibiity for the Syria assault. 

Earlier Saturday commandos from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard rappelled from helicopters in a dramatic raid and seizure of a British container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. 

The Portuguese-flagged ship is associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime, the Associated Press reported. Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group. 

U.S .Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant early Saturday to "discuss urgent regional threats and reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Israel's defense," according to a readout from Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Austin emphasized that "Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies," Ryder recounted.

Biden noted earlier this week that Iran was threatening a "significant attack," and he vowed to offer "ironclad" support to Israel.  

On Friday he simply warned Iran: "Don't!"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel will harm any nation that harms it.