The Wing of Zion, Israel’s own version of Air Force One, took off from Ben-Gurion Airport on Friday morning as Israel initiated an assault on Iranian nuclear facilities as part of Operation Rising Lion, Israeli media reported.

The aircraft, which serves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog as their official vessel of transportation during international visits, departed for Athens on Friday morning amid fears of an Iranian retaliatory attack.

The aircraft was also previously flown out of the Nevatim Airbase, in the northern Negev, during Iran’s attack on Israel in April 2024.

Shortly after Wing of Zion departed for Greece, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin told a press conference on Friday morning that Iran had launched over 100 drones toward Israel.

The IDF has not officially confirmed that every single drone was shot down, and there could be many more launched, but at this time, enough were shot down to make the home front instructions temporarily more lenient.

The instructions could quickly become strict again at some point if and when Iran launches another large attack.

Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.

This is a developing story.