Israel thwarts drone and missile attack from Iran in major war escalation

Updated on Sunday at 8:30am with statements from Israeli PM and defence minister

Iran launched more than 200 explosive drones and cruise missiles against Israel on Saturday night in a retaliatory strike for the bombing of its consular office in Syria earlier this month.

Most of the drones were intercepted by air defence systems, while 10 cruise missiles were shot downn outside Israel's borders, according to the Israeli Defense Force.

The drones were seen flying from Iran, through Iraqi airspace and in the direction of Israel. The drones were carrying 20kg of explosives each, Amos Yadlin, a retired general in the Israeli air force, told Israel's Channel 12 TV.

The IDF said Israeli forces had "successfully intercepted" the majority of the launches with its air defence system - as well as with help from its strategic allies - before the drones and missiles reached Israel.

"A small number of hits were identified, including at an IDF base in southern Israel, where minor damage was caused to infrastructure," the IDF said in a statement.

US aircraft based in the region, supported by the British Royal Air Force, helped bring down drones and missiles before they reached Israel.

Explosions lit the night sky over Israel as the Iron Dome missile defence system brought down the Iranian drones.

Israel's war Cabinet meets as Iran launches drone attack (Photo: X)

After the launch of the aerial attack, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President  Joe Biden held emergency meetings with their top officials.

Biden reaffirmed the US's "ironclad" commitment to "Israel's security against threats from Iran and its proxies".

Early on Sunday morning, a senior Israeli source told Channel 12 TV that the country was planning a "significant response" to the Iranian drone salvo.

Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran would "not hesitate" to take "further defensive measures" to "safeguard its legitimate interests against any military aggressions".

Saudi Arabia also called on all parties to exercise the "utmost levels" of restraint and to spare the region and its people the dangers of war, while UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres also urged "maximum restraint".

Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched the attack from Iranian territory in an operation billed as True Promise. The strike was notified late on Saturday evening and the first salvo of drones reached Israel in the early hours of Sunday. On Sunday morning, an IDF spokesperson said that some of the launches also came from Iraq and Yemen.

Israeli forces were on high alert as the airspace in the region over Syria, Iraq and Jordan was shut down to commercial air traffic, forcing aircraft heading to south east Asia and the Arabian Gulf to take detours.

Iran vowed to retaliate for an attack on its consulate in Syria which killed seven military officers, including a top commander.

It accused Israel of carrying out that attack. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied it but is widely believed to be behind the bombing.

Israeli PM vows to win

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to X as he wrote, "We have intercepted, we have contained. Together we shall win."

Meanwhile, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said that despite the country's success in defending against the strike, the situation is not over, adding that citizens must be prepared for every scenario.

The Iranian drone attack marks a major escalation in the Middle East in the wake of Israel's punishing war on Palestinians in Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas attack on 7 October.

The Hamas attack killed around 1,200 Israelis and more than 200 were taken hostage back to Gaza. Since then Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas and has mounted a massive military operation inside the Gaza strip that has left more than 30,000 Palestinians dead.