Israel will ‘exact price from Iran… when time is right', vows minister

According to Iranian state news agency Tasnim, Iranian Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi has cautioned Israel it will have to face “harsher punishment” if it insists on the continuation of its aggressive measures.

The news agency then reports that Major General Mousavi warned the US authorities their intervention in support of Israel would jeopardise all US bases and interests in the region because Tehran will consider them operational targets.

"I formally condemned in the strongest terms Iran’s attack on Israel in a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian." Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lord David Cameron, said on social media.

Former President Donald Trump has retweeted a self-published tweet from 2018, from when he was president.

The tweet said the US would not stand for “DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH.”

“To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!”

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has written a statement on behalf of the EU member states responding to Iran's missile and drone attack toward Israel.

"The EU condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian drone and missile attacks against Israel. This is an unprecedented escalation and a threat to regional security," he said.

"The EU reiterates its commitment to the security of Israel. In this highly tense regional situation, further escalation can be no one’s interest. We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint."

"The EU remains fully committed to contribute to de-escalation and the security of the region and is in close contact with all sides to this end."

President of Bolivia has voiced concerns about the prospect of a further escalated conflict within the Middle East on X (formerly Twitter).

"In war there are no winners, everyone loses, and the escalation of violence worldwide puts humanity at risk of disappearing," Bolivian President, Luis Alberto, tweeted hours after news of Iran's missile and drone attack on Isreal.

"We join the call of other countries in the world to establish peace in the Middle East within the framework of international law," he added.

"We urgently demand that the UN Secretary-General convene a meeting to prevent this conflict from escalating into a third world war. Respect for life, peace and security must be the guiding principles in relations between States and peoples."

The IDF has released footage of its defence systems intercepting Iranian missiles and drones.

Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amirabdollahian, has said in a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran that Iran had informed the US its attacks against Israel would be “limited” and for self-defence only.

Writing on X, he said: "The Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention of continuing defensive operations, but if necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against any new aggression."

The IDF has released its figures of the projectiles and drones that have been launched by Iran.

Their tweet said, "300+ launches. 99% interception rate."

Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz had vowed that Iran would pay "a price" after Saturday's strikes. 

"We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us," he said In a statement released just before Israel's war cabinet convened on Sunday. 

"And most importantly, faced with the desire of our enemies to harm us, we will continue to unite and become stronger."

Gantz tweeted he had spoken with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. 

They discussed "the imperative of forming a global united front to counter emboldened Iranian aggression directly and through its proxies - regionally and globally," the minister wrote in a tweet.

John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications said on ABC's Meet the Press programme that his country did not want to see a war in the Middle East.

"The president’s been clear: We don’t want to see this escalate. We’re not looking for a wider war with Iran. I think the coming hours and days will tell us a lot,” he said.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned the drone and missile strikes by Iran as a "dangerous and unnecessary escalation".

One child injured during Iran's strikes on Israel is having surgery for a major head wound, the Times of Israel has reported.

The girl, who is from a Bedouin area, was injured after shrapnel from an intercepted missile fell on her home.

She is currently in intensive care, the Israeli newspaper reports.

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations will hold a video conference Sunday to discuss an unprecedented Iranian attack against Israel.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose country holds the G7 rotating presidency, wrote on X: "We express strong concern about a further destabilization of the region and continue to work to avoid it.”

US President Joe Biden said the meeting is "to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.”

The language indicated that the Biden administration does not want Iran’s assault to spiral into a broader military conflict.

Iran has sent a message to the US warning Washington against cooperation with Israel in any military operation against Tehran following its unprecedented attack on Israel.

The state-run IRNA news agency quoted General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, as saying that Tehran had communicated its message to the US through the Swiss Embassy, which handles US interests in Iran in the absence of diplomatic relations.

President Ebrahim Raisi sent a message praising Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for launching the attack, saying it had taught a lesson to the “Zionist regime.”

He also warned that “any new adventure against the interests of the Iranian nation would be met with a heavier and regretful response from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Iran’s top commander said his country's strike on Israeli targets has ended as all the operation has achieved its purpose.

“A considerable number of drones and cruise and ballistic missiles have been used in this operation with well-thought-out tactics and proper planning, as neither the Iron Dome nor the Zionist regime’s missile defence shield could take any significant action against this operation," said Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri.

"The operation’s purposes have been fulfilled,” he added.

The general claimed Iran had the capability to launch a missile and drone strike “tens of times” greater than the Sunday morning operation against Israel, but refrained from a massive attack and confined it to a punitive operation.

“Their [Israeli] population and economic centres were not hit, so that the criminal and aggressive Zionist army would realise that their action won’t remain unanswered. We are definitely prepared to defend our soil and interests,” Major General Baqeri said.

Hamas on Sunday praised Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel, saying it was a “deserved response to the crime” of a strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria two weeks ago.

The strike on the Iranian diplomatic compound on 1 April killed two Iranian generals and was widely attributed to Israel.

Hamas, an Islamic militant group backed by Iran, also appealed for continued support for its war with Israel in Gaza, now in its seventh month.

Hamas directed the appeal at Arab and Islamic nations, as well as Iran-backed groups in the region.

Hamas said in the statement that it is fighting for “the right of our Palestinian people to freedom and independence and the establishment of its Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

Hamas has been branded a terror organisation by the West and has rejected a so-called two-state solution, instead seeking Israel’s destruction.

The Jordanian Council of Ministers says its forces “dealt with” parts of the Iranian attack that flew over its territory, “to prevent them from endangering the safety of our citizens and residential and inhabited areas.”

It said fragments fell in multiple places but did not cause any significant damage or injuries.

The German Foreign Ministry said in a travel advisory Saturday that the Jordanian air force had shot down Iranian drones over Jordan, including over the capital, Amman.

Jordan's airspace was reopened on Sunday morning.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the "large-scale attack" launched on Israel by Iran.

Urging maximum restraint by all parties, he warned that "neither the region nor the world can afford another war."

Iranian state media have warned that any Israeli response to Iran's massive missile and drone strike will draw yet another action with greater severity.

Iran's Tasnim News Agency, which is closely linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that carried out Iran's attack on Israel, warned Israel of an "instant, harsher" blow in case of a military reaction.

“After the end of the punitive operation carried out by Iran and the resistance front, which is still in progress, if the Zionists intend to respond, the next punishment will be definitely given immediately and with double intensity,” it wrote, citing an "informed source". 

Separately, an ex-IRGC commander claimed: "Any stupid act will end the Zionist regime's life."

Writing on X, Mohsen Rezaei said: “From where they shot, they received missiles."

He advised the US and Western governments to come to their senses and “chain the rabid dog of the region.”

“Any new stupidity by the criminal regime will lead to the end of its miserable life,” Rezaei warned.

Israel’s military said on Sunday that France helped defend Israel last night against Iran’s overnight attack.

“France has very good technology, jets, radar – and I know they were contributing in patrolling airspace,” Israel's chief military spokesperson said.

He added that he did not have exact details on whether French jets had shot down any of the missiles launched by Iran.

The US and UK also aided Israel's defence last night.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday called Iran “a country of terror” after Tehran launched hundreds of drones and missiles toward Israel.

"The Iranian attack was blocked in the most impressive way, together with our partners, the Americans and others ... The entire world saw today who is Iran - a country of terror,” Gallant said.

The attack came less than two weeks after a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria that killed 12 people.

Two senior Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building.

Attacks on diplomatic missions are illegal under international law, codified in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Convention on Consular Relations.

Saturday night's attack marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Israel has reopened its airspace following an unprecedented attack on its territory by Iran.

Israel’s Transportation Ministry said the country’s main international airport has resumed operations.

It said domestic airports would reopen throughout the day on Sunday.

Minor damage was caused to an air base, the military said.

The military announced measures on Saturday in anticipation of the Iranian attack, closing its airspace, cancelling school and limiting public gatherings to no more than 1,000 people.

IDF said the launches numbered more than 300 but 99% of them were intercepted.

Calling the outcome “a very significant strategic success,” Daniel Hagari said Iran fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Of those, several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base.

The vast majority of the intercepts came outside Israel’s borders, including 10 cruise missiles that were intercepted by warplanes, he added.

Global leaders have rapidly issued strong condemnations of Tehran's recent actions, simultaneously urging restraint to avoid any further escalation of tensions.

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Booms and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem early Sunday after Iran launched dozens of drones and ballistic missiles toward Israel in an unprecedented revenge mission that pushed the Middle East ever closer to a regionwide war.

The attack late Saturday marked the first time Iran had ever launched a direct military assault on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran has a vast arsenal of drones and missiles. Tehran’s choice of the Shahed-136 drones both give Israel and its allies hours to shoot down the bomb-carrying drones.

The Permanent Mission of Iran to UN claimed that Iran's attack on Israel was in accordance with the UN's charter on the right to self-defence and said that the conflict with Israel could end through tit-for-tat actions.

The Israeli army has ordered residents of the Golan Heights in the north and Nevatim, Dimona and Eilat in the south to stay close to a protected space - such as a shelter, stairwell or inner room - until further notice.

Residents must be able to reach the protected spaces as soon as air raid sirens are activated, the statement said.

“We ask the public to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command regarding the situation and wait for additional instructions,” the statement said.

US officials say American military forces have downed some Iran-launched attack drones flying toward Israel.

That is according to a US defence official and two US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The defence official said the effort to intercept the attack was continuing.

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said that the EU strongly condemns Iran's attacks on Israel.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated on his X account, "I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime's reckless attack against Israel. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaoes in its own backyard".

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said, "France condemns in the strongest terms the attack launched by Iran against Israel. By deciding on such an unprecedented action, Iran is taking a new step in its destabilizing actions and taking the risk of a military escalation."

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani mentioned that he is in close contact with the ambassadors in Tehran and Tel Aviv, adding, "We have spoken with the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister. The government is prepared to handle any scenario."

The acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, expressed on social media that the situation in the Middle East is very concerning, noting, “Earlier today, the Netherlands and other countries sent a clear message to Iran to stop attacking Israel.”

US President Joe Biden cautioned Tehran a day before the Iranian drone attack

At a press conference on Friday, the US president gave Iran a stern warning over the potential strike: “Don’t.”

According to the Reuters news agency, two US officials stated that the US military has intercepted Iranian drones headed toward Israel

Israel's military said over 100 drones had been fired but that its air defenses were prepared for the attack and it was ready to respond. It didn't mention ballistic missiles, which are less easily shot down, but Iran said they were part of the attack.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency says Tehran has fired ballistic missiles at targets inside of Israel.

Slow-moving Shahed-136 drones have been seen in the skies over Iran. However, those are more easily shot down.

According to the Flightradar24 system, which offers real-time flight data, the airspace over Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon is currently shut down.

Hezbollah announced just after midnight that it had launched dozens of rockets at an Israeli barracks in the Golan Heights.

The statement did not specify whether the barrage was related to the Iranian attack.

Earlier, the Lebanese state news agency reported intense Israeli bombardment near areas close to Israel's border in southern Lebanon.

Sirens began to go off in regions close to the border between Lebanon and Israel.

Shortly after reports of Iran's drone attack, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said, "The malicious Zionist regime will be punished," on his X account.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet is meeting in Tel Aviv.

"Our defensive systems are deployed; we are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong". Netanyahu, said in a video shared on social media, minutes before the news of Iran's attack.