Middle East crisis LIVE: Israel vows 'stronger response' after shooting down Iranian drones and missiles

Iran launched a massive aerial attack on Israel on Saturday night in retaliation for a suspected air strike on its Damascus consulate.

More than 100 explosive drones were launched by 10.30pm, the Israeli military said, timed to reach their intended targets in the early hours.

IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Iran launched more than 300 “threats of various types” toward Israel, including ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles.

“We have intercepted 99 per cent of threats towards Israeli territory. This is a very important strategic achievement,” Adraee said.

Israel, Iraq and Jordan closed their air spaces as Israel prepared to defend its skies by intercepting the drones with its advanced air defence systems.

The direct attack, ordered by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was unprecedented and heightened fears Jerusalem could strike back, dragging Iran into conflict with Israel six months after the war against Tehran’s proxy Hamas erupted.

France carried out interception missions during Iran attack, says minister

19:47 , Daniel Keane

France carried out interception missions during Iran's overnight attack on Israel, Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne has said.

"We took our responsibilities...we carried out interception missions," he told France 2 television channel, without elaborating.

Israel's chief military spokesperson said earlier on Sunday that France was among the countries involved in defending against the Iranian attack.

Israel still 'on high alert' after mass drone attack, IDF says

19:04 , Daniel Keane

Israel remains on high alert after Iran's mass drone and missile attack, its chief military spokesperson said on Sunday.

"We are still on high alert and assessing the situation. Over the last few hours we approved operational plans for both offensive and defensive action," Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement

Jordan foreign minister summons Iranian ambassador

18:37 , Daniel Keane

Jordan's foreign minister Ayman Safadi said his country had summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest against Iranian comments that were an interference in the kingdom's internal affairs.

In remarks given to state-owned Mamlaka public broadcaster, Safadi was referring to comments in Iran's official media in recent days that warned Jordan would be the next target in the event it cooperated with Israel in a showdown with Iran.

Labour calls for further sanctions on drones following Iran attack

17:57 , Daniel Keane

Labour has said the Government should bring forward "further sanctions" on drones following the G7 call this afternoon and made clear the Opposition would support such a move.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told journalists in north London: "I hope as a result of the G7 call today, that the Government come forward with further sanctions, and certainly Labour will support them if they choose to do that.

"I'm very concerned that the Shahed 136 drone has been used overnight. It's a drone that has also been sold by Iran to Russia."

He added: "It's time that we stepped up sanctions on those drones, and I hope the government will be coming forward with more plans for that tomorrow."

US House speaker says he will try to pass Israel aid this week

17:44 , Daniel Keane

US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday he would try to pass aid to Israel this week after Iran's mass drone and missile attack on Israel.

However, he did not say whether the legislation would also include assistance for Ukraine and other US allies.

Johnson recounted two failed attempts to pass standalone aid for Israel.

"We're going to try again this week, and the details of that package are being put together right now. We're looking at the options, and all these supplemental issues," Johnson told Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" program.

Cameron 'formally condemns' Iran attack on call with Iranian minister

17:05 , Daniel Keane

Foreign secretary David Cameron said on Sunday he had "formally condemned in the strongest terms" Iran's attack on Israel in a call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian.

"I made clear that Iran must stop these reckless attacks, de-escalate and release the MSC Aries," Cameron said on X, referring to a Portuguese-flagged vessel that Iran's state news agency IRNA said had been seized by Revolutionary Guards.

United Airlines cancels planned flight to Tel Aviv

16:59 , Daniel Keane

United Airlines has canceled Sunday's planned flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Tel Aviv following the latest turmoil in the Middle East, the airlines said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Kuwait Airways resumes commercial flights to Beirut and Amman

16:25 , Daniel Keane

Kuwait Airways on Sunday announced the resumption of all its commercial flights traveling to and from Beirut and Amman, state media said, after Lebanon and Jordan reopened their air spaces.

Israel has chance to form strategic alliance against Iran, defence minister says

15:56 , Daniel Keane

Israel has an opportunity to form a strategic alliance against Iran after its mass drone and missile attack was jointly repelled, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday.

The attack was repelled together with the United States and other countries, Gallant said in a statement.

"We have an opportunity to establish a strategic alliance against this grave threat by Iran which is threatening to mount nuclear explosives on these missiles, which could be an extremely grave threat."

Joe Biden tells Netanyahu that US would not take part in offensive response against Iran

14:57 , Will Mata

President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States would not participate in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran, according to reports on Sunday by CNN and the Wall Street Journal.

Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday night in response to a suspected Israel attack on Iran's Syria consulate on April 1.

Speaking with Netanyahu late on Saturday, Biden suggested further response was unnecessary, and senior US officials told their counterparts that the United States would not participate in an offensive response against Iran, CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported.

John Kirby, the White House's top national security spokesperson, told ABC's "This Week" program on Sunday that the United States will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war with Iran.

"We don't seek escalated tensions in the region. We don't seek a wider conflict," Kirby said.

Israel will exact price from Iran when time is right, minister says

14:38 , Will Mata

Israel will exact a price from Iran in response to its mass missile and drone attack when the time is right, centrist war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said on Sunday.

"We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us," Gantz said in a statement as the Israeli war cabinet was due to convene to discuss Israel's response to Iran's attack.

Major Middle East airlines to resume flights after Iran's attack on Israel

14:12 , Will Mata

Major airlines across the Middle East announced they would resume operations in the region after cancelling or rerouting some flights as Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel through Saturday night into Sunday.

Emirates Airlines, which had cancelled some of its fights and rerouted others due to temporary airspace closures in the region, was resuming scheduled operations to and from Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq from Sunday afternoon, a spokesperson said.

Qatar Airways also resumed services to Amman, Beirut and Baghdad, it said in a post on X, while Etihad Airways was planning to operate scheduled passenger and cargo services between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, Amman and Beirut starting from Monday.

Etihad warned that as services return to normal after the temporary closure of airspace across parts of the Middle East, "there may still be a risk of some knock-on disruption across Monday 15".

"Some of our flights have been affected by the temporary closure of a number of airspaces in the region," a statement from the United Arab Emirates' Fly Dubai was quoted on state news agency WAM as saying.

The attack had spurred similar announcements from Lebanon, Egypt and Kuwait following several Arab countries announcing the temporary closure of their airspace.

Netherlands advises against all travel to Israel

13:57 , Will Mata

The Dutch government on Sunday advised against all travel to Israel due to the uncertain security situation following overnight air strikes by Iran, news agency ANP reported.

EU calls for meeting of foreign affairs ministers

13:44 , Will Mata

EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Sunday called for an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers on Tuesday to discuss Iran's attacks against Israel.

"Our objective is to contribute to de-escalation and security of the region" Borrell wrote on social media platform X.

Yousaf demands region abides by UN laws

13:38 , Will Mata

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has called on the international community to "demand" players in the region abide by UN Security Council resolutions.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Yousaf said he "condemns" Iran's attempted attack on Israel as he has "all and every regional escalation".

"There is not going to be a military solution to the conflict we see in the Middle East, there is only going to be a political and diplomatic solution," he said.

"We know that violence begets violence and therefore it's imperative now that the international community demand - not request, but demand - that all parties abide by UN security resolutions, such as a call for an immediate ceasefire (in Gaza)."

The First Minister added: "We can't afford to see any more loss of life, because innocent civilians have already had to pay far too high a price for the actions of a number of countries and therefore we need to see de-escalation as opposed to further escalation in the region."

Turkey calls on Iran to avoid further escalation with Israel

13:24 , Will Mata

Turkey does not want further escalation of tension in the region after Iran's drone and missile attack against Israel, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan told his Iranian counterpart in a phone call on Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told Fidan that its "retaliatory operation" against Israel had ended, adding that Iran would not launch a new operation unless it was attacked, Turkish diplomatic sources said.

Full story: RAF jets downed attack drones in Iranian action against Israel

13:12 , Will Mata

RAF jets shot down “a number of” attack drones after Iran launched an unprecedented assault on Israel, Rishi Sunak has confirmed, saying the fallout in regional stability would have been “hard to overstate” if fewer projectiles had been intercepted.

Warplanes based in Iraq and Syria had been deployed to intercept airborne strikes after Tehran announced it had launched an assault on Saturday.

The Prime Minister was to join other G7 leaders on a call on Sunday amid fears of further escalation in the event of a possible Israeli counter-strike.

Sami Quadri has the full story here.

Yemen's Houthis say Iranian attack on Israel is legitimate

13:09 , Will Mata

Yemen's armed Houthi movement said on Sunday that Iran's attack on Israel was a legitimate act in response to a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1.

A Houthi spokesman added that the Yemeni group had been in direct confrontation with Israel since October 7, by attacking the southern Israeli port of Eilat with missiles and drones and by preventing Israeli ships from sailing through the Red Sea.

Iranian intelligence unit warns against pro-Israel social media posts

12:45 , Sami Quadri

The intelligence unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement on Sunday warning against any pro-Israeli posts by Iranian social media users, state media reported.

RAF shot down 'a number of drones' in Iran's attack on Israel, PM confirms

12:15 , Sami Quadri

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed RAF pilots shot down “a number” of attack drones.

Speaking from Downing Street, Rishi Sunak said: “I want to pay tribute to the bravery of our pilots.”

He said lives were saved “not just in Israel, but in neighbouring countries such as Jordan as well”.

“I can confirm that our pilots did shoot down a number of Iranian attack drones.”

He said Iran sent both missiles and attack drones and did not specify how many were shot down by RAF forces.

Rishi Sunak to be part of urgent G7 talks

11:53 , Will Mata

G7 leaders are to hold urgent talks after Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel that saw RAF jets deployed to shoot down drones from Tehran.

Rishi Sunak is expected to join US President Joe Biden on the call on Sunday amid fears of further escalation in the event of a possible Israeli counter-strike.

Tehran has threatened a "heavier" response if Washington co-operates with any further Israeli military action against it.

Israel said Iran launched 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles early on Sunday in an attack that set off air raid sirens across the country.

Lufthansa suspends flights to Amman, Beirut, Erbil and Tel Aviv

11:23 , Will Mata

German airline group Lufthansa said on Sunday it was suspending flights to Amman, Beirut, Erbil and Tel Aviv at least until Monday following the latest turmoil in the Middle East.

The group, which includes the German flagship carrier as well as Swiss and Austrian airlines, would also ensure its flights avoided the airspace above Israel, Jordan and Iraq for the foreseeable future, it said in a statement to Reuters.

The company had already said on Friday it was suspending flights to and from Tehran until April 18 and would not use Iranian airspace during that time.

Iran summons the British, French and German ambassadors

11:08 , Will Mata

Iran's foreign ministry summoned on Sunday the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to question what it referred to as their "irresponsible stance" regarding Tehran's retaliatory strikes on Israel, the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency reported.

Iranian airports cancel flights until Monday morning

10:51 , Will Mata

Several Iranian airports including Tehran's Imam Khomeini International have cancelled flights until Monday, Iranian state media reported on Sunday, as tensions flared in the Middle East with Iran's attack on Israel overnight.

Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel through Saturday night into Sunday as a response to Israel's bombing of its consulate in Syria on April 1, raising fears of a possible Israeli retaliation against Tehran.

"All flights from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport have been cancelled until 6am (0230 GMT) following an announcement by Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation," the airport's executive told the Iranian Student News Agency

Jordan PM says escalation in region would lead to 'dangerous paths'

10:46 , Will Mata

Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said on Sunday any escalation in the region would lead to "dangerous paths" and said that there was a need to reduce escalation by all parties.

In remarks to the cabinet, Khasawneh said the country's armed forces would confront any attempt by any party that sought to endanger the kingdom's security.

The staunch US ally's air defences intercepted and downed dozens of Iranian drones and missiles that flew over the country's airspace in the direction of Israeli targets, security sources said.

Israeli war cabinet to meet at 1230 GMT, says Israeli official

10:38 , Will Mata

Israel's war cabinet is due to meet at 3:30pm (1230 GMT) to discuss a response to the drone and missile attack launched by Iran overnight, an Israeli official said.

Russia calls for restraint after Iranian strikes on Israel

10:23 , Will Mata

Russia said on Sunday it was extremely concerned by Iranian strikes on Israel and called on all parties to exercise restraint but said tensions would remain high until the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians was resolved.

"We express our extreme concern over another dangerous escalation in the region," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on the Iranian attacks. "We call on all parties involved to exercise restraint."

Medvedev: America does not want war in Middle East

10:05 , Will Mata

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that a war between Israel and Iran would worsen Joe Biden's prospects of being re-elected U.S. president.

"America does not want a big war in the Middle East," Medvedev said on Telegram.

"The killings in Gaza worsen Biden's prospects in the elections, and war between Israel and Iran would introduce additional uncertainty."

Labour's home secretary backs UK government action

09:49 , Will Mata

Labour has backed the UK Government action taken overnight to help protect Israel.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: "Let's be clear, we support the existing Government missions in the Middle East and continue to do so.

"That is important. We also think that it is important that action was taken overnight to prevent the Iranian strikes on Israel because we should be clear that if action hadn't been taken to prevent those strikes, we would have seen further escalation and further risk of widening conflict."

Irish leader condemns strikes

09:36 , Will Mata

Irish premier Simon Harris has condemned Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel.

"I strongly condemn Iran's reckless and large-scale attack on Israel," Mr Harris said in a statement.

"I urge all sides to show restraint now and to avoid any escalation in military action and the devastation that would cause."

Video: Missiles in sky over Jerusalem

09:32 , Will Mata

Sir Keir Starmer releases statement to condemn attack on Israel

09:02 , Will Mata

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has joined Tory opposite number Rishi Sunak in condemning the Iranian drone attack.

He shared this statement on Twitter.

Israel 'would face bigger attack in retaliation' Iran warns

08:51 , Will Mata

Top Iranian commanders warned Israel on Sunday that the country would face a bigger attack if it retaliates against overnight drone and missile strikes, adding that Washington has been told not to back any military action from its ally.

"Our response will be much larger than tonight's military action if Israel retaliates against Iran," armed forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri told state TV, adding that Tehran warned Washington that any backing of Israeli retaliation would result in US bases being targeted.

The commander of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, also warned Tehran would retaliate against any Israeli attack on its interests, officials or citizens.

Hamas says Iran's attack on Israel was 'natural right'

08:40 , Will Mata

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which has been locked in a war with Israel in Gaza for more than six months, defended Iran's attack on Israel that began on Saturday.

"We in Hamas regard the military operation conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran a natural right and a deserved response on the crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus and the assassination of several leaders of the Revolutionary Guards," said Hamas in a statement.

Tehran's attacks late on Saturday, launched after a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 that killed officers of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, raised the threat of a wider regional conflict

Emirates airlines cancels some flights following Iran attack on Israel

08:34 , Will Mata

Emirates Airlines announced the cancellation of some of its flights and the re-routing of others, the airline's spokesperson said on Sunday.

Airlines have been cancelling flights and changing routes after Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel late on Saturday.

Minor damage caused to Israeli airbase

08:30 , Will Mata

Israeli rear admiral Hagari said minor damage was caused to an Israeli airbase, but he said it was still functioning.

Rescuers said a seven-year-old girl was seriously wounded in southern Israel, apparently in a missile strike, though they said police were still investigating the circumstances of her injuries.

Israel may be particularly proud of the success of its defence because it stands in sharp contrast to the failures it endured during Hamas's attack on October 7.

Video: Iranian Missiles or Drones Being Intercepted In The Sky Above Jordan

08:28 , Will Mata

Sunak condemns Iran’s ‘reckless attack’ on Israel in ‘strongest terms’

08:11 , Will Mata

Iran's military officials warn Israel and US against retaliation

08:03 , Will Mata

Iran warned Israel of a larger attack on its territory should it retaliate against Tehran's overnight drone and missile attack on Sunday, adding that Washington has been warned not to back Israeli military action.

"Our response will be much larger than tonight's military action if Israel retaliates against Iran," armed forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri told state TV, adding that Tehran warned Washington that any backing of Israeli retaliation would result in U.S. bases being targeted.

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, also warned Tehran would retaliate against any Israeli attack on its interests, officials or citizens.

Israel says Hamas has rejected hostage deal proposal

07:59 , Will Mata

Hamas has rejected the latest proposal for a deal to return Israeli hostages and Israel will continue to pursue its objectives in Gaza "with full force", prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

The statement said that the rejection of the proposals showed that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, did not want a deal and was trying to exploit tensions with Iran and bring about a regional escalation of the conflict.

Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon reopen airspace after Iran attacks

07:55 , Will Mata

Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon have reopened their airspace on Sunday after closing it late on Saturday as Iran launched drone and missile attacks against Israel, the three countries said on Sunday.

Jordan's state TV said the country had resumed air traffic operations, citing aviation authorities. The opening of its airspace came more than three hours earlier than scheduled.

Iraq's aviation authority said security risks had now been overcome.

Lebanon said its airport will resume its activities after the overnight closure, state TV reported.

Israel threatens significant response to attack

07:54 , Will Mata

The Israeli military said the armed forces had shot down more than 99% of the Iranian drones and missiles and were discussing follow-up options.

Israel's Channel 12 TV cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying there would be a "significant response" to the attack.

The war in Gaza, which Israel invaded after an attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Oct. 7, has ratcheted up tensions in the region, spreading to fronts with Lebanon and Syria and drawing long-range fire at Israeli targets from as far away as Yemen and Iraq.

Biden vows support

07:53 , Will Mata

President Joe Biden on Saturday lauded American forces who helped Israel down "nearly all" of the drones and missiles fired by Iran and vowed to coordinate a global response to Tehran's unprecedented attack.

The Pentagon said its forces intercepted "dozens of missiles" and drones launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen that were headed toward Israel.

With regional tensions at their highest since the Israel-Hamas war began six months ago, Biden pledged that American support for Israel's defense against attacks by Iran and its proxies is "ironclad."

"At my direction, to support the defense of Israel, the US military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week," Biden said in a statement late Saturday. "Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles."

Israel airspace reopens, airports authority says

07:43 , Will Mata

Israel reopened its airspace as of 7.30am (0430 GMT) on Sunday, the country's airports authority said after an overnight attack by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones.

It said flight schedules from Tel Aviv were expected to be affected and travellers should check flight times.

Japan strongly condemns Iranian attack on Israel as "escalation"

07:41 , Will Mata

Japan strongly condemned a retaliatory attack by Iran on Israel, calling it an escalation of events and saying it was deeply concerned at the situation, in a statement released by the foreign minister on Sunday.

"This attack is one that further worsens the current Middle East situation. We are deeply concerned and strongly condemn this sort of escalation," the statement said.

Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli territory, a retaliatory strike for an attack on its embassy in Syria that it blamed on Israel that raised the threat of a wider regional conflict.

Peace and stability is especially important for Japan, and the government will continue to take the necessary diplomatic steps to prevent a deterioration of the situation, the statement also said.

Israeli military says France helped in defence against Iranian attack

07:35 , Will Mata

Israel's chief military spokesperson said on Sunday that France was among the countries involved in defending against Iran's overnight attack on Israel.

"France has very good technology, jets, radar - and I know they were contributing in patrolling airspace," he said, adding that he did not have exact details on whether French jets had shot down any of the missiles launched by Iran

Israel airspace reopens

07:23 , Sami Quadri

Israel reopened its airspace at 7.30am (4.30am GMT) on Sunday, the country's airports authority said after an overnight attack by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones.

It said flight schedules from Tel Aviv were expected to be affected and travellers should check flight times.

Israel shoots down '99 per cent of Iranian drones and missiles'

07:19 , Sami Quadri

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday his country would achieve victory after the military said it shot down almost all Iranian drones and missiles.

"We intercepted, we repelled, together we shallwin," Netanyahu posted on X.

The Israeli military said the armed forces had shot down more than 99 per cent of the Iranian drones and missiles and were discussing follow-up options.

Israel's Channel 12 TV cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying there would be a "significant response" to the attack.