RAF jets shot down Iranian drones over Israel (Picture: Reuters/EPA/PA)
Fears have again risen that the conflict between Iran and Israel in the Middle East will mark the fetal stages of World War Three.
More than 300 missiles and drones were deployed towards Israel in what is Iran’s first direct attack on Israel’s territory – a breakaway from the proxy war between the two archenemies.
RAF jets have been used to shoot down drones, part of Iran’s retaliation to Israel’s incineration of a consulate building in Syria on April 1, in which some of Iran’s top commanders were killed.
Aircraft in Iraq and Syria have been sent to intercept ‘any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions,’ the Ministry of Defence said, after prime minister Rishi Sunak was quick to side with Israel.
Israel’s infamous Iron Dome air defence system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran (Picture: AP)
People holding Iranian flags gather to stage a demonstration in support of Iran’s attack on Israel in Tehran (Picture: Getty)
A 10-year-old girl has been ‘severely injured’ by shrapnel in the ‘unprecedented’ attack, which could set the whole region on fire.
Air raid sirens continued to sound overnight across Israel, including in Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem.
Explosions were heard as Israeli air defences intercepted the projectiles, helped by forces from the UK, France and the US.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency war cabinet to discuss the situation late on Saturday night.
Iran, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon had all closed their airspaces last night (Picture: Reuters)
Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden also held an emergency meeting with his top security officials.
With both the US and UK vowing support for Netanyahu’s government, there are different views as to what Israel’s next steps would be.
Military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that 99% of the barrage of drones and missiles were shot down, adding: ‘We are working closely with the US, UK and France who acted tonight.
‘This partnership has always been close, but tonight it manifested itself in an unusual way.’
Iran’s mission to the United Nations said ‘the matter can be deemed concluded’ (Picture: Reuters)
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) confirmed the attack, saying that it launched the drones and missiles under the operation ‘True Promise’ as part of punishment for ‘the Zionist entity’s crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Syria’.
In a statement last night, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said ‘the matter can be deemed concluded’.
‘However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,’ it added.
‘It is a conflict between Iran and the Israeli regime, from which the US MUST STAY AWAY!’
Iran’s chief of staff of its armed forces has said any retaliation will be met with a larger attack than last night, according to state media.
Tasnim reported General Mohammad Bagheri also warned the US its bases will be targeted if Washington backs Israel in any kind of retaliation.
‘Our response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran,’ he said.
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