Iran-Israel drone attack LIVE: Latest updates from Middle East as more than 300 drones and missiles are shot down by Israelis with RAF help

Dr Lina Khatib, a research associate at Chatham House, said the Iranian attack on Israel was “meant to be some kind of spectacle that Iran wanted the world to witness”.

Dr Khati told BBC Radio 5 Live the attack was “highly choreographed” and “actually quite limited”.

“So this shows that Iran just wanted to send a very strong message, to save face, to give the impression that it responded directly to Israel, but at the same time, it absolutely does not want the situation to escalate more,” she said. said.

Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the UK must “defend Israel’s security” and called for an end to the “horrific cycle of violence”.

Mr. Davey said in a statement: “We completely condemn Iran’s attack on Israel. This is a dangerous escalation in a conflict that has already caused far too much death and suffering.

“We must prevent further escalation and remain focused on achieving lasting peace, so that Israeli and Palestinian children – both – can grow up without the horrific cycle of violence that has lasted for so long.”

Bright, flashing objects were seen falling in the sky over Amman, Jordan, after Iran launched a swarm of drones and launched missiles at Israel.

A barrage of objects falling from the sky was seen across Israel, the West Bank and Jerusalem in the early hours of this morning.

Iran fired missiles at Israel in its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory.

Victoria Atkins, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said the UK continues to “support” Israel.

But the MP added that the UK’s message after the Iranian attack on Israel “across the region is that we must not make the situation worse”.

Hamas defended Iran’s attack on Israel, calling it a “natural right and a deserved response.”

“We in Hamas consider the military operation carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran as a natural right and a deserved response to the crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus and the assassination of several leaders of the Guards. revolution,” the group said in a statement. statement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Iranian attack on Israel, saying he urged “all parties to exercise maximum restraint.”

He wrote in a statement: “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military clashes on multiple fronts in the Middle East.

“I have repeatedly emphasized that neither the region nor the world can afford another war.”

RAF planes were used to shoot down Iranian drones after Tehran announced it had launched an attack on Israel, in what threatens to become a major regional escalation.

Combat aircraft in Iraq and Syria have been deployed to intercept “any airborne attack within range of our existing missions,” the Defense Department said.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said 99 percent of the more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles had been shot down outside the country’s borders, with planes intercepting more of 10 cruise missiles.

Iran today reiterated a warning to Israel that it should not respond to its attack on Israeli territory because its next steps would be more important if it did.

Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, said that if Israel retaliated, Iran’s response would be “much more important” than the nighttime bombardment, Reuters reported.

At the same time, Iran also warned Washington that supporting Israeli retaliation would lead to targeting US bases.

Israel said it had yesterday “foiled” Iran’s unprecedented attack on its country and revealed that 120 ballistic missiles as well as 200 drones had been used – with a seven-year-old girl injured in “serious condition” in the ‘hospital.

Last night, innocent civilians were forced to flee to air raid shelters across the country.

Iran sent a salvo of missiles in response to an early April drone strike in Syria that killed 12 Iranians, including two top generals.

The Israeli military said today that Iran’s unprecedented nighttime attack on Israel was “foiled” thanks to hundreds of missiles and drones intercepted with the help of the United States and its allies.

Read the full story here:

• Israel revealed that it shot down more than 200 drones and missiles fired by Iran last night.
• A seven-year-old girl was left in “serious condition” in hospital.
• Iran sent a salvo of missiles in response to a drone strike that killed 12 Iranians in Syria this month.
• Iran today warned Israel of a bigger attack if it retaliates against nighttime drone