Iran launched dozens of missiles and drones from its territory toward Israel in an unprecedented five-hour strike starting late Saturday.

 

Israel's military said "99%” of the more than 300 projectiles fired by Iran were intercepted by Israel and its "partners", a CNN report said. 

 

There have been no reports of injuries suffered directly through Iranian strikes, according to Israel’s emergency service.

 

With this attack, the Middle East has been plunged deeper into uncharted territory, say experts.

 

Iran's foreign ministry said the attack was in retaliation to a deadly Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month.

 

President Joe Biden made clear the US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, according to a senior administration official. But he said Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security against Iranian threats remains “ironclad.”

 

US forces intercepted more than 70 drones and at least three ballistic missiles, according to US officials. The US assessment is that Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful.

 

Iran's attack marks the first time it has targeted Israel directly from its own soil. Some of the launches also came from Iraq and Yemen.

 

Sirens sounded across Israel and loud explosions were heard over Jerusalem, with air defence systems shooting down objects over the city.

 

UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps condemns the "senseless attack" and says additional RAF jets have been deployed to the region.

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in his first public response since the overnight attacks declared that the country "will win".

 

“We intercepted. We blocked. Together we will win," the prime minister wrote in a brief post on X, formerly known as Twitter.