Iran Israel attack RECAP: US says nation not the power it appears to be while IDF threatens retaliation

Russian government spokesperson says Kremlin "extremely concerned" over escalation

The Kremlin is "extremely concerned" about the situation in the Middle East, its spokesman said Monday.

Dmitry Peskov told his daily conference call with reporters that Moscow urges "all countries in the region to show restraint."

"Further escalation is in no one's interests. Therefore, of course, we advocate that all disagreements be resolved exclusively by political and diplomatic methods," Peskov said.

Iran 'not the power it purports to be' says White House spokesperson

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby has said that Iran isn't the power it 'purports to be' after the attack on Israel.

Speaking on Good Morning America he said: "I think it did show, did demonstrate that Iran is not the power that it purports to be, that it doesn't have that same military superiority."

It comes after senior Biden administration officials said it was clear Iran's attack on Israel was intended to cause significant damage and death, and U.S. officials had been in regular contact with their Israeli counterparts.

Israel and its coalition of partners were able to defeat 99% of the munitions, a senior administration official. If the assault had been successful, "this attack could have cause an uncontrollable escalation of broader regional conflict."

Israeli military issues warning for Palestinians in Gaza not to return to the north

The Israeli military renewed warnings on Monday for Palestinians in Gaza not to return to the embattled territory's north, a day after five people were killed trying to reach their homes in the war-torn area.

The military said Palestinians should stay in southern Gaza where they have been told to shelter because the north is a "dangerous combat zone," Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote on social platform X.

On Sunday, hundreds of Palestinians sheltering in central Gaza headed north in an attempt to return to their homes. Throngs of people were seen crowding a seaside road.

Hospital authorities in Gaza said five people were shot by Israeli forces while trying to head north. The Israeli military had no immediate comment and the precise circumstances behind the deaths were not immediately clear.

The returnees said they were prompted to make the journey north because they were fed up with the difficult conditions they are forced to live under while displaced.

Northern Gaza was an early target in Israel's war against Hamas, which it launched in response to the militant group's deadly Oct. 7 attack. The military is still operating in the north in a bid to stamp out militants that have regrouped.

Vast parts of northern Gaza have been flattened by Israel's offensive and much of its population displaced.

Four soldiers wounded by explosion on Lebanon border, Israeli military says

The Israeli military says four soldiers were wounded by an explosion along the northern border with Lebanon.

The military said that the source of the explosion, which occurred overnight, was still unclear. It left one soldier severely wounded, two moderately wounded, and one with light injuries.

The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said Monday that mines they set up in southern Lebanon near the border detonated after Israeli ground troops encroached on Lebanese territory, incurring casualties.

The incident comes as tensions in the region soared after an Iranian air assault was thwarted by Israel and its allies. Israel has not said whether it will respond. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on Oct. 7, concerns have grown that near-daily clashes along the border between Israel and Hezbollah could escalate into a full-scale war.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is calling on Israel to "contribute to de-escalation"

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is calling on Israel to "contribute to de-escalation" in the Middle East following Iran's attack on the country.

Scholz told reporters in Shanghai on Monday that "Iran must stop this aggression." Asked whether he will attempt to dissuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from a military response to Saturday night's attack, he said there's widespread agreement that Israel's success in largely repelling the attack with allies' help was "really impressive."

He added that "this is a success that perhaps also should not be thrown away. Hence also our advice to contribute to de-escalation themselves." Germany is a staunch ally of Israel.

World leaders urge Israel not to retaliate for the Iranian drone and missile attack

World leaders are urging Israel not to retaliate after Iran launched an attack involving hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told the BBC on Monday the U.K. does not support a retaliatory strike, while French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris will try to "convince Israel that we must not respond by escalating."

The Iranian attack on Saturday, less than two weeks after a suspected Israeli strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building, 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.

An Israeli military spokesman said that 99% of the drones and missiles launched by Iran were intercepted. Israel and Iran have been on a collision course throughout Israel's six-month war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

The war erupted after Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant groups backed by Iran, carried out a devastating cross-border attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. An Israeli offensive in Gaza has caused widespread devastation and killed over 33,700 people, according to local health officials.

Only known casualty of Iran's attack on Israel is seven-year-old girl

A seven-year-old girl, who suffered a severe head injury, is the only known casualty of Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel.

Iran launched an overnight aerial assault early Sunday, firing more than 300 projectiles, including 170 drones and 120 ballistic missiles toward Israel. The Israeli military reports that 99% of these were intercepted by the country's aerial defense system and its allies.

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Biden accused of 'sleepwalking' US into 'catastrophic war' as IDF threatens airstrike

Joe Biden has been accused of “sleepwalking” the US into another “catastrophic” war in the Middle East as the threat of Israel’s impending airstrikes on Iran looms large.

The 81-year-old US President is facing mounting pressure to contain the crisis as critics claim that he’s allowed the conflict in the region to escalate. It comes as Israel threatened the use of airstrikes on Iran as it considers “options” following the barrage of Iranian drones and missiles that attempted to strike Israel on Saturday night.

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David Cameron urges Israel to be 'smart as well as tough' by not escalating conflict

Lord David Cameron has urged Israel to be "smart as well as tough" by not escalating the conflict with Iran.

Israel should recognise Tehran's attack on the weekend as an "almost total failure" and "think with head as well as heart" in its response, the Foreign Secretary said. He confirmed that British RAF jets shot down "a small number" of drones fired by Iran in what was its first direct military assault on Israeli soil.

The unprecedented attack by Iran, which it said was in retaliation against a strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria earlier this month, has raised fears over the Israel-Hamas war spiralling into a wider regional conflagration.

Speaking ahead of a Commons statement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the matter, Lord Cameron on Monday echoed US President Joe Biden's comment that Israel should view the successful defence against around 350 drones and missiles launched by Iran as a victory.

The Foreign Secretary told Times Radio: "The best thing to do in the case of Israel is to recognise this has been a failure for Iran. "And so they should, as President Biden has said to them, as it were, take the win and then move on to focus on how to eradicate Hamas in Gaza and how to get those hostages free."

He also said: "Israeli people this morning are thinking: 'We've suffered this massive attack. Of course, we want our government to respond'. And that's why I think we have to be sensitive in the way we put this, but to say: 'Look, you have had a win because the Iran attack was such a failure and the smart thing to do as well as the tough thing to do now is actually not to escalate'."

He described it as a "double defeat" for Tehran, with its attack being not only "an almost total failure, but also the rest of the world can now see what a malign influence they are in the region". "Had those weapons not been shot down, there could have been thousands of casualties, including civilian casualties," he told Sky News, describing Tehran's actions as "reckless and dangerous".

The UK would "absolutely" consider further sanctions on Iran and will seek to work with G7 partners to "look at what further steps we can do", the Cabinet minister said. RAF jets could defend Israel again, even if the country's leaders ignored calls from the UK and US to hold back from retaliation against Iran, Lord Cameron suggested.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has warned the country will strike back

Israel warned Iran would suffer a massive backlash for its missile and drone attack, as the Middle East teeters on the brink of all-out war.

And there were fears Britain could be dragged into any wider conflict after Rishi Sunak sent RAF warplanes to help repel Tehran’s onslaught. Experts warn tit-for-tat strikes between the two countries may explode into a war that will spark further bloodshed in a region already devastated by the carnage in Gaza.

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Seven-year-old girl is only known casualty of Iran's attack

A seven-year-old girl is the only known victim of Iran's attack on Israel.

The young Bedouin girl is from a town near Arad in the Negev Desert. She suffered a serious head injury when shrapnel from an intercepted missile reportedly fell on her family's home.

The girl underwent surgery for the head injury and is now in an intensive car unit. Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding her injuries.

David Cameron urges Israel not to retaliate to Iran's 'total failure' attack

David Cameron has described Iran's attack on Israel as an "almost total failure" as he called for Benjamin Netanyahu to de-escalate tensions amid fears of a retaliation attack.

Lord Cameron said: "Of course if you are sitting in Israel this morning you're thinking quite rightly we have every right to respond to this. And they do. But we are urging they shouldn't escalate.

"In many ways this has been a double defeat for Iran. The attack was an almost total failure and they revealed to the world they are the malign influence in the region prepared to do this. Our hope is that there won't be a retaliatory response and instead the world's focus should shift to Hamas."

When asked about President Joe Biden's reported comments to Israel to "take the win", Lord Cameron continued: "I think that's right. I totally understand those in Israel who want to see more but I think this is the time to think with head as well as heart. I think the smart thing to do is to recognise Iran's attack was a failure."

Joe Biden accused of 'sleepwalking' US into 'catastrophic' war

Joe Biden has been accused of “sleepwalking” the US into another “catastrophic” war in the Middle East.

The US President is facing increasing pressure to contain the crisis as critics claim that he’s allowed the conflict to escalate. Now, international relations and defence experts have spoken out about the risk of Israel’s allies, including the US, being sucked into the broadening war.

Fawaz Gerges, professor of International Relations and Middle Eastern Politics at the London School of Economics also criticised Biden's “failed” influence over Netanyahu, thus, preventing further conflict. “The strategy of the Biden administration has failed miserably. Biden is sleepwalking the US into another catastrophic war in the Middle East,” he told NBC.

“His overarching goal of preventing the war in Gaza from escalating into neighbouring countries has failed. Biden has failed to influence Netanyahu's decisions either in Gaza or towards Iran.”

It comes as Donald Trump slammed his presidential election rival of “weakness and incompetence” for failing to address the US public following the Iranian attack. In an email to his swathe of MAGA supporters on Sunday, the Republican wrote: “Crooked Joe is asleep at the wheel! AMERICA IS NOT SAFE. Israel is UNDER ATTACK from Iran!”

IDF threatens airstrike on Iran as military considers 'options'

IDF spokesperson, Peter Lerner, confirmed on Monday that Israel’s retaliation may include “a strike or no strike” following Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Saturday evening.

The looming airstrike threat comes as the Israeli military considers “a lot of different scenarios,” Lerner said, as a top commander pulls together a “wide range of options”. He told reporters that the Israeli government will “decide on the steps forward” in the coming days – with a chance the decision will come as early as today.

“Just because we were successful in intercepting, we shouldn't underestimate what Iran did,” he added as Israel claimed they intercepted 99% of the barrage of drones and missiles fired by Iran. “We can't take that lightly.”

Israel vows to 'exact a price' from Iran

Israeli Minister Benny Gantz has said Israel will choose the appropriate time and method to 'exact a price' from Iran as the country considers it's response to the unprecedented missile and drone attacks.

“Right now, they certainly are seriously considering direct strikes on Iran, because that is a clearest path back to deterrence,” Ryan Bohl, senior Middle East and North Africa analyst said.

He told CNBC's Squawk Box Asia that Israel "don't want an overt conflict with Iran" so may opt for "covert escalation" by "looking for ways where they can get their shadow war back into the shadows with greater intensity."

IDF warns Palestinians to 'avoid returning' to northern Gaza

Palestinians have been told they should 'avoid trying to return' to the Northern Gaza strip.

In a message on X, Avichay Adraee, the IDF spokesman for the Arab media warned the area is a "dangerous combat zone".

He wrote: "Therefore we repeat our calls for you to remain in the humanitarian areas and shelters in the southern Gaza Strip area and avoid trying to return to the northern Gaza Strip, in order to preserve your safety."

Israel demands 'all possible sanctions' on Iran

Israel has made a new call for sanctions on Iran following it's attack.

During a meeting of the UN security council Israel's UN envoy, Gilad Erdan demanded the council “impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it’s too late” and “condemn Iran for their terror”, Agence France-Presse reports.

It comes as Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani claimed his country does "not seek escalation of war".

Biden fears 'catastrophic escalation' as Israel says Iran attack was "declaration of war"

Biden privately fears "catastrophic escalation" following Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend, The Mail reported. It comes after the President had a late night phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night.

However, Iran have said they believe Israel's comments regarding retaliation are just a "threat". Fears over opossinle escalation come after Iran fired 300 drones and missiles at Israel, 99% of which Israel intercepted.

New Zealand slams 'shocking and illegal strikes against Israel'

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran's drone and missile strike on Israel over the weekend.

He explained: "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could prove disastrous."

While Peters added: "These unprecedented strikes on Israel only add to an already unstable global environment."

India urges Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board seized container ship

India has called on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members who are on board a container ship, which was seized by Iran on Saturday.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he spoke wit Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and "took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries," CNN reported.

Four Fillipino crew were also reported to have been onboard the ship.

Japanese Prime Minister 'strongly condemns' Iran's attack on Israel

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday that he "strongly condemns" Iran's attack, which saw them fire 300 drones and missiles at Israel.

CNN reported Kishida said: ""(The attack) further aggravates the current situation in the Middle East. We are deeply concerned and strongly condemn such an escalation."

US does not want Middle East conflict to get worse but it will keep defending Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked with other leading figures in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey on Sunday, Sky News reported.

During those talks, Blinken is said to have reiterated the message that the US does not want the conflict in the Middle East to worsen, however he added that the US wil continue to support the country's defences.

It comes after Iran fired 300 missiles and drones at Israel over the weekend, 99% of which were said to be have been destroyed by Israel's defences.

ROAD TO WAR: The four ways the Israel-Iran crisis could escalate in days - from all-out conflict to targeted strikes

Iran's near-deadly 300-strong revenge barrage has pushed the Middle East to the nail-biting brink of all-out war between two bitter enemies.

As Israel plots its next move on Tehran western diplomats are desperately trying to pressure it not to set the region alight with an explosion of violence. Israel’s war cabinet knows it is already facing international condemnation for the deaths of so many Palestinian civilians in the war on Hamas in Gaza.

US President Joe Biden is leading the way, along with the UK, in condemning Iran’s strikes but also pressuring Israel not to knee jerk its way towards a wider conflict. Iran’s direct targeting of Israel was telegraphed for days, with intelligence warnings from Washington and leaks that Tehran had mobilised its long-range missile teams.

But it is hard to imagine Israel will not respond to the Tehran attack with a strike inside Iran, pushing the region in a terrifying momentum towards conflict. It is simply not in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s DNA not to punch back, even though he knows the rest of the world is watching nervously.

The worst implications for a wider conflict, dragging in first Tehran’s proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen and well beyond could steer us towards a much bigger war. Iran has loose allies in Russia and China, links which make it even more crucial Israel’s next move does not force Tehran to launch a bloody response. This would inevitably involve American forces and possibly UK forces deployed to protect Israel, as they already have done in this first direct Iranian salvo.

Here are four possible scenarios as we await Israel’s next move with the possibility of it actually happening

Iranian ambassador to UN talks Israels's threat of retaliation

Iranian ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani told Sky News that he believes Israel's threat of a response to Iran's attack is just a "threat"

It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's attack was "a declaration of war". However Iravani said: "I think it is a threat, talk, not an action," he told Sky News.

US says it took down more than 80 of Iran's drones

The US has said it took down more than 80 of Iran's drones and six ballistic missiles during Iran's attack on Israel.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces, coupled with the support of US European Command destroyers destroyed at least six ballistic missiles and 80 one-way attack drones on April 13 and 14.

THe IDF confirmed on Saturday that 99% of Iran's drones and missiles had been destroyed. There weren't any fatalities reported, but a 10-year-old girl was injured by shrapnel.

'This incident is not over', says Israeli war cabinet minister

Israeli war cabinet minister and retired army general Benny Gantz has said "the incident is not over", with regards to Iran, Sky News reported.

Gantz claimed that Israel would seek revenge on Iran at a time "that's right for us". He went on to describe Iran as a "global problem".

It comes after Iran fired 300 missiles and drones at Israel on Saturday, 99% of which Israel intercepted.

US rejects claim they were warned about Iran's attack on Israel

Turkish, Jordanian and Iraqi officials today said that the US were warned about Iran's atack, 72 hours before they launched 300 missiles and drones at Israel, thus helping avert mass casualties.

The US has categorically denied this claim. A senior Washington official said: "That is absolutely not true. They did not give a notification, nor did they give any sense of ... 'these will be the targets, so evacuate them'."

The official explained that Tehran only sent a message after the attack had begun. He continued: "We received a message from the Iranians as this was ongoing, through the Swiss. This was basically suggesting that they were finished after this, but it was still an ongoing attack."

Iran's attack was a "declaration of war", Israel's president says

In a fiery statement to Sky News, Israel President Isaac Herzog said he considers Iran's massive aerial strike a "declaration of war."

"It's about time the world faces this empire of evil in Tehran," he said. Herzog continued, saying that world leaders must "make it clear" to the Iranian officials that their actions are "unacceptable".

The Iranian government's Saturday launch of more than 300 drones and missiles against Israel, according to him, is "just another example of how [Tehran] has operated for years and years".

"This is like a real war. I mean, this is a declaration of war," he said, before adding that Israel would heed Washington's advice and exercise restraint.

However, he reiterartes how Tehran has been "spreading havoc, terror and instability all over the world, and especially in our region."

Jordan airport descends into "utter chaos" as airspace reopens and flights resume

A passenger travelling through an airport in Jordan described "utter chaos" as airport staff struggle to handle the influx of visitors.

The traveller, who said he's returning from his honeymoon, said some families have been waiting for three hours as about 100 people have entered the airport.

"Staff appear utterly unprepared and overwhelmed and this, compiled with a lack of information and no order, is fuelling the chaos and seeing tempers flare."

In an attempt to reestablish some semblance of order, the traveler reported that a lone police officer was joined by two others, but they have had essentially "no luck." Instead of forming a line, people are merely swarming around the small transfer station, arguing with one another while brandishing different passports and tickets

Tensions are high. Travelers are leaving in frustrtaion of wait times and flight prices, which are reportedly "through the roof."

Videos from the Iran drone attack on Israel show explosions lighting up the night sky

Unbelievable video has surfaced online that shows the night sky blazing with explosives during Iran's historic drone attack on Israel.

According to sources, during the course of seven hours, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) F-35 Warplanes intercepted and destroyed Iranian UAVs and missiles over Jordan, Syria, and Israel.

The terrifying scene of missiles flying through the air and then detonating was captured on citizen-shot videos, and warning sirens could be heard all around. There was also footage on Iranian official television that appears to show the widespread missile launches.