The United Nations Security Council holds a gathering on the state of affairs within the Middle East, together with Iran’s current assault towards Israel, at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sunday.

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The United Nations Security Council holds a gathering on the state of affairs within the Middle East, together with Iran’s current assault towards Israel, at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sunday.

Charly Triballeau/AFP through Getty Images

Iran launched an enormous barrage of over 300 drones and missiles at Israel over the weekend — in what’s believed to be Iran’s first direct assault on its regional foe from Iranian soil.

Nearly all the weapons had been intercepted by Israel and its allies, together with the United States. However, just a few of the Iranian ballistic missiles made it by way of the defenses, severely injuring a 7-year-old woman and barely damaging a army base in southern Israel, in accordance with Israeli officers.

Iranian officers mentioned the assault was in response to an airstrike from earlier this month that hit Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria. Seven Iranian army officers, together with two generals, had been killed.

Israel neither confirmed nor denied being behind the Syria strike, although Iran and the Pentagon mentioned Israel was accountable.

On Sunday, a senior Iranian army official mentioned Iran’s “operation” towards Israel had ended and there can be no extra assaults coming, in accordance with Iranian state media.

But tensions proceed to run excessive within the Middle East. Now, the main target is on how Israel and different nations will reply to Iran’s escalation. An Israeli army spokesperson mentioned on Sunday that leaders had “approved operational plans for both offensive and defensive action,” with out going into additional element.

Here’s what to know:

Nearly all aerial assaults had been intercepted, Israel says, largely because of Israel’s superior air protection methods

Mohamad Hassouna, 49, factors to a gap within the roof of a constructing attributable to a projectile that injured his 7-year-old daughter at their Bedouin village within the southern Negev desert on Sunday.

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Mohamad Hassouna, 49, factors to a gap within the roof of a constructing attributable to a projectile that injured his 7-year-old daughter at their Bedouin village within the southern Negev desert on Sunday.

Ahmad Gharabli/AFP through Getty Images

In the times main as much as the assault, the U.S. and Israel intently coordinated their air protection preparations. Still, a U.S. official described the Iranian barrage as being on the “high end” of what the U.S. and Israel anticipated.

About 99% of the aerial assaults launched by Iran and its proxies had been intercepted outdoors Israeli airspace, in accordance with the Israeli army. The U.S., France, Jordan and U.Ok. forces helped take down the Iranian weapons.

Israel’s most superior air protection system, the Arrow 3, supplied the principle safety towards Iran’s ballistic missiles. The Arrow 3 has been round for a number of years, however had by no means confronted such an intense onslaught.

Israeli army spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned Sunday that the Arrow 3 had “proved itself against a significant number of ballistic missiles.”

Still, a number of individuals suffered from shrapnel wounds after the assault, together with a 7-year previous Bedouin woman who underwent surgical procedure because of a head wound, the Times of Israel and Haaretz reported. Hagari confirmed the stories.

Iran’s overseas minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, mentioned the nation notified the U.S. forward of the assault by way of Swiss intermediaries, informing that the strike won’t goal American personnel or bases within the area. U.S. officers, nevertheless, mentioned there was no notification from Iran previous to the assault on the place weapons can be concentrating on.

Israel struck a Hezbollah goal in Lebanon and urged the U.N. to sentence Tehran

People collect round a destroyed constructing focused by Israeli airstrikes on the village of Nabi Sheet within the Baablbek district in Lebanon’s japanese Bekaa Valley on Sunday.

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On Sunday, Israel mentioned its fighter jets struck an alleged munitions manufacturing web site in southern Lebanon belonging to the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah.

Israeli’s army mentioned the strike was in response to the Iranian air assault over the weekend, including that Hezbollah was accountable for about 40 rockets focused at Israel, the Times of Israel reported.

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fireplace throughout the border with Lebanon usually for the reason that shock Oct. 7 assault by Hamas and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza. Iran has lengthy provided Hamas with funds and weapons however the White House has indirectly linked Iran to the Oct. 7 assault.

At an emergency assembly of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday, Iran’s ambassador to the U.N., Amir Saeid Iravani, mentioned Iran had no different alternative however to “exercise its inherent right to self-defense under international law.” Iravani mentioned his county “does not seek escalation or war in the region,” and didn’t need to start a battle with the U.S.

At the assembly, Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan referred to as for the U.N. to “impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it’s too late.” He added: “This attack crossed every red line and Israel reserves the legal right to retaliate.”

Israel’s battle cupboard additionally gathered to debate how to reply to the Iranian assaults. The Israeli management has not but indicated what form its response may take.

Biden advised Netanyahu the U.S. will not take part in offensive operations towards Iran

In this handout picture supplied by the White House, President Biden meets with members of the nationwide safety workforce on Saturday within the White House Situation Room in Washington, D.C.

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The White House through Getty Images

In this handout picture supplied by the White House, President Biden meets with members of the nationwide safety workforce on Saturday within the White House Situation Room in Washington, D.C.

The White House through Getty Images

President Biden is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to proceed with warning in contemplating the way to reply.

According to a U.S. protection official, who spoke on situation of anonymity, Biden advised Netanyahu that the U.S. stays absolutely dedicated to defending Israel, however won’t participate in offensive operations towards Iran. Since the Israel-Hamas battle erupted in Gaza final October, Biden has made clear he doesn’t need the battle to develop right into a broader regional battle.

“I think Israel has to think through carefully what it does next,” the official mentioned. “Nobody wants to run up the escalation ladder here.”

In Congress, House Republicans are making modifications to their legislative schedule for this week to think about a yet-to-be-revealed proposal that may additional help Israel.

Republicans additionally purpose to incorporate language that “holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise introduced in an announcement launched Saturday night time.

World leaders name for restraint to keep away from a wider regional battle within the Middle East

In an announcement Sunday, G7 leaders mentioned that Iran had additional destabilized the area and that they stood in solidarity with Israel. The G7 is made up of the United States, Canada, Italy, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the European Union.

“This must be avoided. We will continue to work to stabilize the situation and avoid further escalation,” the leaders mentioned.

On Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres mentioned he condemned Iran’s assault and was “deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation.”

Governments within the Middle East, together with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, additionally issued statements expressing concern and calling for restraint in order to not exacerbate tensions within the area.

NPR’s Jane Arraf, Tom Bowman, Greg Myre, Deepa Shivaram, Barbara Sprunt and Hadeel Al-Shalchi contributed reporting.