Iran warns Israel of “larger attack” in case of retaliation to its drone, missile attacks

Iran has warned Israel of a “larger attack” in case of retaliation against Tehran’s overnight drone and missile attack, adding that Washington has been warned not to back Israeli military action.

Iran said it attacked in response to an Israeli raid on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1 and says the matter can now “be deemed concluded”.

“Our response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran,” armed forces chief of staff Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri told Iranian state TV.

He added that Tehran warned Washington that any backing of Israeli retaliation would result in US bases being targeted.

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, also warned that Tehran would retaliate against any Israeli attack on its interests, officials or citizens.

Israel has said that more than 300 drones and missiles were launched at it from Iran, Iraq and Yemen, adding that the vast majority of them have been intercepted.

“Very little damage was caused,” according to Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant

An IDF spokesperson stated that 99% of the more than 300 missiles and drones were intercepted. Sirens blared across the country and explosions were visible in the sky as the first wave reached Israel at around 2 am local time (midnight BST) and Israeli air defence systems went to work.

Iranian strikes caused “minor damage” to the Nevatim airbase in the south of Israel, army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Sunday.

“Only a few missiles fell in the territory of the state of Israel with slight damage to a military base in the south, with only slight damage to the infrastructure,” Hagari added in a statement.