Summary

1. Israel says the vast majority of more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran were intercepted overnight
2. The attacks – which drew international condemnation – marked the first time Iran has targeted Israel directly from its own soil
3. Israeli military say there were a small number of hits on its territory, including a base in southern Israel
4. Iran had been warning that it would retaliate after an Israeli strike killed Iranian military commanders in Damascus earlier this month
5. US President Joe Biden says the US helped Israel “take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles”
6. It is unclear how Israel plans to respond, but Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant says his country must be prepared for every scenario
7. As world leaders urged restraint, Iran warned that any “reckless” retaliation by Israel would receive a “much stronger response”

Biden doesn’t believe this needs to escalate into wider war, Kirby says

US President Joe Biden doesn’t believe Iran’s attack on Israel needs to escalate into a wider war, according to the National Security Council.

Speaking on ABC’s Meet the Press programme, John Kirby, the council’s spokesman, was asked whether further escalation was likely.

“The president doesn’t believe it needs to move in that direction whatsoever,” Kirby said, adding that Biden was working the “diplomatic side” by calling a G7 meeting later today.

“What Israel demonstrated last night was an incredible ability to defend itself – just they’re own military superiority was quite remarkable yesterday.

“Very little got through and the damage was extraordinary light,” he added. 

“The president has been clear we don’t want this to escalate. The coming hours and days will tell us a lot.”

END

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