Welcome to bbc news. Israel is warning that it will retaliate after iran fired a huge barrage of drones and missiles at israel. The israelis say that 99 of the projectiles were shot down, with Military Support from the united states, the uk and other countries. Its believed nobody was killed, but a seven Year Old Girl is said to have been critically wounded in one attack. In total, more than 300 missiles and drones were launched. Its the first time that iran has directly targeted israel from its own soil. Iran says its actions were in response to a Missile Strike earlier this month in syria that killed several of its military commanders. Irans Foreign Minister has said it has no intention of prolonging what it described as defensive operations, but that it wouldnt hesitate to safeguard its own interests. It has warned against an israeli retaliation. But benny gantz, a member of the israeli war cabinet, promised to build a Regional Coalition, and exact a price from iran at a time right for israel. Well bring you the latest from our correspondents in washington and jerusalem, and speaking to danny danon, former israeli ambassador to the United Nations. Well also be bringing youre the latest from bbc verify, on what we know about the attack. First, lets start with this report from hugo bachega. After days of threats, the attack. More than 300 iranian drones and missiles directed at israel. Injerusalem at around 2am, the air raid sirens went off. This was the view from my hotel as the Israeli Military shot down iranian objects in the sky. But the attack wasnt a surprise. For almost two weeks, iran telegraphed what it was planning to do. A response to this air strike on its diplomatic compound in damascus that killed several military advisers. It blamed israel for the attack, saying this was the equivalent to a strike on its own soil. But when its missiles and drones did come, most were intercepted by the israeli army. There was only minor damage to one Military Base in the south. The us military helped intercept the drones and missiles that also came from iraq and yemen and raf jets were sent to the region. Translation the iranian threat meets the idfs aerial and technological superiority, combined with a Strong Coalition which together has downed the vast majority of threats. We have intercepted 99 of the threats towards israeli territory. This is a very important strategic achievement. This morning in israel, relief. We are very happy with the alliance that helped us because most of the aircraft have not arrived to israel. We hope that there will be a stop to this escalation. But also calls for revenge. I think that irans attack should not go quietly, this woman says. We have to respond. What happened last night was unprecedented. For the first time ever, a direct iranian attack on israel, marking a major escalation in the middle east. But things can get worse. Allies are urging restraint and israel says it is analysing its options. President biden spoke with Prime Minister netanyahu overnight and reaffirmed americas iron clad commitment to israel. But from the Commander In Chief of irans armed forces, a warning. A large response if there is an israeli retaliation. Back in israel, things seem to be getting back to normal. The airspace that was shut last night has re opened and the airport is back up and running. But many wonder how, or if, this country will respond. Hugo bachega, bbc news, jerusalem. The israeli war cabinet has been meeting to discuss its response to the iranian attack. A senior minister, benny gantz, said israel would exact a price from iran in its own time and fashion. Translation yesterday, iran launched an attack on israel and met the strength of the Israeli Security system. Iran is a global problem, it is a regional challenge and it is also a danger to israel. And yesterday, the world clearly stood together with israel in the face of the danger. Israel against iran the world against iran. This is the result. Faced with the threat of iran, we will build a Regional Coalition and collect the price from iran in a way and at a time that suits us. Earlier i spoke to our middle east correspondent hugo bochega and asked if theres any indication of israels response. Not yet. So were waiting to hear from Prime Minister netanyahu and to see what was decided in this meeting. We heard earlier today from the Israeli Defence minister, yoav gallant, who said that a confrontation with iran wasnt over. But it is very interesting that in that phone call between President Biden and Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, President Biden told mr netanyahu that The Americans would not support any israeli response. So obviously, there is the fear here that any kind of israeli retaliation after this attack could lead to another escalation in the crisis here. So i think The Americans are now trying to prevent the israelis from going ahead with any kind of retaliation. The israeli authorities had warned before this attack that any kind of direct attack from iran would lead to an israeli response, and i think that know theres a lot of diplomatic activity happening today to try to de escalate tensions. The 6 7, the Security Council at the United Nations will be meeting later to discuss the tensions here. So i think a lot of effort under way to try to reduce tensions in the region. Yes, and as you speak, eu Foreign Ministers indicating they will meet on tuesday to discuss that attack. But going back to what it is like on the ground, i mean, give me a sense of the public reaction, because were hearing obviously about the war cabinet and all of that. But given that for days now, ordinary life has rather ground to a standstill, theyve known an attack was coming. Give me a sense of what people have been saying. Yeah, it wasnt really a surprise that this attack happened because for days we talked about the warnings that came from The Americans, in particular, american officials saying that this iranian retaliation was a matter of when, not if. So, everybody knew that this attack was going to happen. So there was a lot of anxiety, there was concern, but there wasnt panic here. And obviously, even yesterday, you know, there were some announcements by israeli authorities indicating that an attack was going to happen. Residents were warned to seek shelter if they heard the air raid alert. So the population had time to prepare for this attack, and i think the story of the night would have been different if this Israeli Defense hadnt been so successful. 99 of the drones and missiles that were fired by iran intercepted by the countrys air defense system, so only minor damage to a Military Base. So an extremely successful night for the Israeli Military in defending the country during this attack. Exactly, on that point, and it brings me back to what you were saying about the phone call withjoe biden. The american president is reported to have said, take the victory, the defences worked, draw a Line In The Sand. But in terms of the pressures that Benjamin Netanyahu is under, he, within the cabinet, also has those hawkish voices that are saying, this is the moment. Iran has been a threat for such a long while. This is the moment to take decisive action. So there are competing pressures, arent there . Exactly. And there have been voices in israel for a very long time, you know, defending the idea that something had to be done with the iranian issue. Many seeing iran as an existential threat to israel. So im pretty sure that there will be some voices inside the government defending some sort of response, some sort of retaliation. But again, The Americans who, you know, are israels most important allies, saying that, you know, theyre not going to give any kind of support to israel if they decide to go ahead with any kind of retaliation. And just in the last half an hour or so from that war cabinet, benny gantz has been saying we will exact a price from iran benny gantz has been saying, we will exact a price from iran in the fashion and timing thats right for us. So that is interesting because it doesnt perhaps indicate rushing to a response, but i suppose it is when they describe a price for iran, what that price is the sort of potential action, the potential targets. Exactly. And i think theres a lot of speculation now about what the israelis may decide to do next in terms of responding to this attack. I mean, this was an unprecedented attack. For the very first time, iran carried out a direct attack on israel and with more than 300 drones and missiles, so it was a very significant attack. And again, benny gantz is a hardline ally of president Benjamin Netanyahu. So im pretty sure that these are the voices that were going to be hearing in the coming days, perhaps suggesting or supporting some kind of action against iran. But again, a lot of diplomatic activity happening right now, especially from israels western allies, to try to reduce tensions and avoid another escalation in the tensions here. That is hugo bachega injerusalem. Lets turn to washington. The white house has warned it doesnt want to see the crisis in the middle east escalate. It said it would be up to israel whether or how to respond to the iranian attack, but said it wouldnt participate in any assault on iran. 0ur Correspondent Will Vernon is following developments in washington. Well, the official line from The White House this morning, matthew, is that america stands by israel and that we need to wait and see what decision the israeli war cabinet takes. We know that theyve been meeting. John kirby, the White House National security spokesman, hes been doing a round of interviews this morning on the sunday shows, and hes been talking about what mr biden is thinking, suggesting mr biden wants to calm tensions. He said every decision, every discussion that hes had is all designed to not let this become a broad regional war, and thats where his head still is. And we saw that Statement Last night, didnt we, from joe biden following his phone call with the israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, where he said that he was going to convene this g7 leaders discussion. Weve just been hearing about it. Saying that he was going to co ordinate a united diplomatic response. And we also had a Statement Last night from the us defence secretary, lloyd austin, in which he talked about de escalating tensions, urging iran to de escalate tensions. And i think thats the tone, the flavour of what people are thinking here in washington. Its one of de escalation, one of calming tensions. I dont think america wants to rush into any military response to this, certainly not to get dragged into any direct Military Confrontation with iran. But at the same time, of course, this was a large scale, unprecedented attack on americas most important ally in the middle east and directly onto its territory by iran. So im sure the israelis are looking for some sort of response, trying to work out what that response will be. And theres already a debate going on here. Theres been several congressmen and women doing the sunday shows this morning on us tv. Already a debate going on about what exactly america should do about that, about the israeli intention perhaps to respond. What sort of support should america offer to the israelis . Is there perhaps some sort of need to rein in the israeli response . So im sure that debate, in the coming hours and days, especially with all that diplomatic chin wagging going on as well, will only intensify. Will vernon in washington. His Brother Houthi not taking part in those attacks overnight. Hezbollah. Earlier i spoke to bbc arabic� s Carine Torbey whos in beirut. She gave us her insight on how things were looking from there. Well, there is a sense of relief that hezbollah was out of this retaliation, that it didnt take part in the iranian response and therefore didnt give israel an excuse to intensify its bombing and shelling of Southern Lebanon and beyond that. But the anxiety remains very, very high in the country. The question is, how will israel respond to the iranian retaliation . And that is something also to follow very closely in this country, because the options on the table could be very, very wide. And there might be also a possibility that israel could perceive a response that involves, you know, a further escalation of its attack on his brother and on southern escalation of its attack on hezbollah and on Southern Lebanon and other areas within lebanon. And therefore, that could bring, you know, a different level to the conflict that has been going on, you know, for six months, and over six months, between hezbollah and the israeli army, from Southern Lebanon to Northern Israel and in the opposite direction. John kirby has been telling the programme that the us will continue to help Israel Defence itself but it does not want a war with iran. It will call the g7 together today to talk about a diplomatic response today. Jae talk about a diplomatic response toda. ,. , �. , today. Joe biden told president netanyahu today. Joe biden told president netanyahu that today. Joe biden told president netanyahu that the today. Joe biden told president netanyahu that the us today. Joe biden told president netanyahu that the us will today. 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I think the president was very clear with prime respond . I think the president was very clear with Prime Minister very clear with Prime Minister netanyahu about the success that they enjoyed last night and the impact that success ought to have. John kirby talking in the last little while. I want to bring you some of the latest pictures released by the idf Showing Inception the idf say this is what a 99 Interception Rate Looks like. Lets speak to danny danon, member of Israeli Parliament and israels former ambassdor to the un. He joins us from tel aviv. Your reaction to what we saw overnight . It your reaction to what we saw overnight . Your reaction to what we saw overniuht . ,. ,. ,. , overnight . It was phenomenal last niuht overnight . It was phenomenal last ni. Ht what overnight . It was phenomenal last night what happened. Overnight . It was phenomenal last night what happened. To overnight . It was phenomenal last night what happened. To see overnight . It was phenomenal last night what happened. To see the l night what happened. To see the amazing capability of our Defence System, beyond expectations, we were lucky. We were prepared and we are grateful for our Defence System and the allies that sit with us. But we have to look at the intention of the iranians, sending 300 projectiles into israel with a goal to attack civilians, military capabilities, even our capital. He saw the picture of the iron dome under attack. We knew the intention was to create major damage in israel that we were able to stop it and i