Iran missile and drone attack on Israel – what we know so far

Iran has directed a flock of drones and cruise missiles towards Israel in retaliation for the recent bombing of an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria. The attack on the building led to the tragic loss of nine lives, including a senior figure in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards. This is the first time that Iran has directly attacked Israel, and it marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between the two countries.

Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, stated that the damage inflicted was minimal. The Israel Defense Forces spokesperson revealed that their air defence systems successfully intercepted over 300 missiles and drones, with a success rate of 99%. The initial onslaught occurred around 2am local time (midnight BST), when alarms rang out throughout the country and detonations were visible in the sky. Israeli air defence systems rapidly sprang into action.

According to the spokesperson of the army, Daniel Hagari, the Nevatim airbase in southern Israel was only slightly damaged by the strikes carried out by Iran. He stated that only a few missiles landed within the borders of Israel, causing minor damage to the military base in southern Israel and only causing slight damage to the infrastructure.

On Sunday, Iran cautioned Israel about a possible major assault on its land if it takes revenge for Tehran's drone and missile attack. Moreover, if the United States supports any Israeli military operation against Iran, its bases will be attacked too.

As of Sunday morning, Israeli officials stated that they have not yet made a decision on how to respond to the Iranian attack. They mentioned that they plan to discuss possible reactions during the war cabinet meeting, which includes Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Benny Gantz. This meeting is scheduled for 3:30 pm (12:30 GMT).

Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, stated that US troops stopped many missiles and drones heading towards Israel. Gallant expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the US and other allies.

In free English, you could write: Joe Biden, the president of the United States, claimed that Iran used the help of their ally groups in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. He commended the efforts of US military staff in reducing the number of drones and missiles fired by Iran. Biden had to leave his weekend vacation at his Delaware beach house early to make it back to the White House for his meeting with national security personnel. He plans to gather with leaders of the G7 countries on Sunday.

The UK Ministry of Defence deployed Royal Air Force fighter jets and refuelling aircraft to support Israel's defence. These planes were based in Cyprus and had two main tasks: to replace the US air force in the missions against the Islamic State in Iraq and north-eastern Syria, and to intercept Iranian drones in the UK area of operations.

According to a statement from the cabinet, Jordan took action on Saturday night to protect its people by intercepting certain objects that had flown into its airspace. To safeguard against any potential drones or missiles that might enter its territory, Jordan was reported by two security sources in the region to have prepared its air defences. This was deemed necessary due to Jordan's geographical location between Iran and Israel.

Leaders from around the world have criticized Iran's assault. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, among other regional forces, have urged caution. António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, expressed his profound concerns about the potential for widespread devastation throughout the region. He pleaded with all parties to be extremely careful and avoid actions that may result in major military engagements in the Middle East.

The president of the UN council reported that an emergency gathering will be convened on Sunday in response to a request from the Israeli representative at the UN.

An increasing number of congressional leaders in the United States are urging the approval of the supplementary aid bill. Chuck Schumer, the majority leader of the US Senate, stated that this would be the most straightforward way to assist Israel. This extra spending bill amounts to $95 billion in total, with $14 billion allocated for Israel along with provisions for $60 billion in aid for Ukraine and support for Taiwan. The Senate already passed it with a significant 70% approval rate back in February. However, it has been obstructed in the House ever since.

On Saturday, Steve Scalise, who leads the majority in the House, released a statement indicating there will be an alteration to the House's timetable to review legislation that provides assistance to Israel. Nevertheless, it's unclear if Scalise meant a distinct bill aimed at supporting Israel or if he meant the $95bn supplementary spending bill.