Israel shoots down over 300 drones and missiles from Iran as Netanyahu vows ‘we will win’

Israel has shot down over 300 drones and missiles sent from Iran in an overnight attack, as Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that his country will win.

According to the IDF, 99 per cent of projectiles were shot down, with only seven hitting Israel and causing minor damage to the Nevatim airbase in the south of the country.

No fatalities have been reported, with the only injury being a 10-year-old girl, according to the IDF.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, took to X to issue his first, short statement, since the attack.

He said: “We intercepted. We blocked. Together, we will win.”

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: “Iran pushed the Middle East towards escalation. We will do whatever is necessary.”

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he has completed an operational situation assessment with senior officials in Israel’s defence establishment.

He said: “Together with the United States and additional partners, we managed to defend the territory of the State of Israel.

“Very little damage was caused – this is the result of the IDF’s impressive operations.”

He added: “The campaign is not yet over – we must remain alert and attentive to the instructions published by the IDF and Homefront Command. We must be prepared for every scenario.

“Having said this, we have thwarted the most significant wave [of the attack], and we did so successfully.”

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Iran has threatened larger attacks if Israel were to retaliate, with Iran seeing this attack as justified and in retaliation to the bombing of their consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier this month, for which they blame the Israelis.

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

The Iranian chief of staff of its armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri also warned the US that its bases will be targeted if Washington backs Israel in any kind of retaliation.

He said: “Our response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran”.

The US was involved in shooting down the hundreds of projectiles overnight, with both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris reaffirming their country’s “ironclad” commitment to defend Israel.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken says he will be “consulting with allies and partners in the region and around the world in the hours and days ahead”.

He said the US does not seek escalation but “will continue to support Israel’s defence” and “defend US personnel”.

He added: “The United States condemns Iran’s attack on Israel in the strongest terms.”

Biden has said he will convene a meeting of G7 leaders to “co-ordinate a united diplomatic response” to Iran’s attack.

Italy, which currently holds the rotating G7 presidency, has called for a virtual meeting to discuss the attack and it is expected to take place this afternoon.

Israel has now reopened its airspace after it closed it last night in anticipation of the attack.

Jordan and Iraq – two countries on the projectiles’ path – have also reopened their airspace after closing it temporarily overnight.