Israel begins to shape narrative on its response to Iranpublished at 21:46 British Summer Time 15 April

21:46 BST 15 April

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent, reporting from Jerusalem

The signals that we’re getting from Israel’s war cabinet are that there will be a response to Iran’s attack but it will be carefully calibrated.

Local media are reporting some members saying Israel will respond “clearly but decisively”. Others are saying they will respond “wisely but not from the gut".

What is interesting is that even though we don’t know precisely what Israel has decided, they have started to signal and shape the narrative before it happens.

But it is clear there will be a response: the head of Israel’s army, Herzi Halevi, has said so.

The question for Israel will be how severe they wish their response to be. The first choice is: does Israel attack Iran itself, or does it attack one of Iran’s supportive allied militias, so-called proxies, in the region.

The expectation is that Israel will respond by attacking Iran directly, to match the fact that Iran attacked Israel directly for the first time in a very long time.

Then the question is, if Israel does wish to attack Iran proper, how does it do so in a way that is effective, that sends a message, that is a deterrent, without alienating its allies, and more importantly without triggering a full scale regional war.

So that’s the balance they have got to try and get right.

Image source, Israeli government handout

We're going to pause our live coverage now as it approaches midnight in Tehran and 23:30 in Tel Aviv.

We still have one more piece of analysis to come from our diplomatic correspondent James Landale in Jerusalem, plus there's a range of pieces across BBC News reporting on and contextualising this story:

What's happening: For the latest updates on what's happening in Israel and Iran, you can read our news story here

UK focus: There's an overview of what was said in the UK Parliament and elsewhere today here

Explainer: What was in wave of Iranian attacks and how were they thwarted? You can read the answers to these questions and more here

Context: Why has Iran attacked Israel? Read our explainer here

Bowen analysis: The BBC's international editor analyses what's happening here: As Israel debates Iran attack response, can US and allies stop slide into all-out war?

Watch: And you can watch BBC Verify examining video from Iran's attack on Israel below:

We're going to bring our live coverage to an end shortly, but before we do here's a brief overview of what happened today:

• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff said Iran's attack on Saturday "will be met with a response", after the country's war cabinet held discussions earlier today
• An IDF spokesperson said: "We will do whatever is necessary to protect the state of Israel, and we will do it at the opportunity and the time we will choose"
• Earlier Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country's attack on Israel amounted to "exercising the right of legitimate defence" and said it would not hesitate to protect its interests in the future
• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on "all sides" to "show restraint", with a number of countries also urging against escalation
• Both the White House and UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron described Iran’s attack as a failure
• Belgium, France and Germany are among several countries to have summoned Iranian ambassadors, adding to growing condemnation and mounting international pressure on Tehran
• Meanwhile, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby claimed the amount of aid getting into Gaza has increased "quite dramatically" in recent days
• But many Gazans are still displaced by fighting and unable to return home, with aid agencies warning that famine is imminent

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel deeply appreciates the support of the US, UK, France and others in "thwarting" the Iranian attack over the weekend.

In a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, this evening, the prime minister's office said the international community "must continue to stand united in resisting this Iranian aggression, which threatens world peace".

Earlier Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country's attack on Israel amounted to "exercising the right of legitimate defence" and said it would not hesitate to protect its interests in the future

Israel’s former ambassador to the UN Danny Danon has told the BBC that his country does not want “to start a full war” with Iran but would “find the smart way to act” in response to the drone and missile attack launched over the weekend.

Danon is a member of the Knesset for Likud and close to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

He tells the HardTalk programme that the government would take action “to make sure that the leaders of Iran will think very carefully next time before they give the orders to send ballistic missiles and cruise missiles into Israel”.

The Global Story podcast has just published its latest episode, focusing on the Iran attacks and the potential consequences it may have for the Middle East.

James Reynolds speaks with the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, who describes the attack marks “a whole new chapter” in the relations between Iran and Israel.

James is also joined by the BBC’s security correspondent Gordon Corera, and Siavash Ardalan from BBC Persian, to discuss how the players at the centre of this confrontation might decide their next move.

• Listen here on BBC Sounds, or wherever you get your podcasts

Image source, Getty Images

We've just been hearing from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari, who says Tel Aviv must do everything necessary to protect the state "at the time and in the way we in Israel choose to do so".

Hagari says the Iranian attack was "thwarted with the iron defence campaign," adding that it counted on an "unprecedented coalition" from the UK, US, France and other countries, which "not only thwarted but truly prevented that attack".

At least nine countries were involved in the military escalation - with projectiles fired from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen and downed by Israel, the US, the UK and Jordan.

Some 99% of the incoming barrage was intercepted either outside Israeli airspace or over the country itself, Hagari has previously said.

Image source, EPA

More now from Washington, where President Joe Biden has said that the US is "committed to Israel's security", adding that he wants to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from escalating.

"Iran launched an unprecedented aerial attack against Israel, and we launched an unprecedented military effort to defend it. Together with our partners, we defended that attack," Biden said as he met Iraq's visiting prime minister.

"The United States is committed to Israel's security. We're committed to a ceasefire that will bring the hostages home and prevent the conflict from spreading beyond what it already has," he said.

Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says that Israel has moved in a "significant way" but Hamas is "the barrier to a deal" that would see fighting in Gaza paused and hostages released.

Hamas earlier rejected another proposal for a deal and has asked for an end to the war in Gaza and withdrawal of all Israeli forces.

Miller added that the US was still pursuing a deal that would allow for a ceasefire lasting at least six weeks and allow more aid into Gaza.

US national security council spokesman John Kirby has said that Iran did not issue warnings to the White House about its timeframe for launching an attack on Israel.

Briefing reporters in Washington, Kirby says the US did exchange messages with Iran, but insists there were no messages regarding Iran's timeframe or targets for the attack.

Kirby says Iran's intent was to cause "significant destruction" and casualties.

Speaking to reporters from the Nevatim Airbase, Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), says Iran's attacks over the weekend "will be met with a response".

His remarks come after Israel's war cabinet met to consider its response to Tehran firing more than 300 projectiles towards Israel.

Halevi says Israel is looking ahead and considering its next steps.

"This launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response," he adds.

Timing is key to Israel's responsepublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 15 April

18:35 BST 15 April

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Israel’s war cabinet will have been debating two key questions in response to Iran’s missile attacks at the weekend: how to respond and when.

Because the timing here matters.

There are those like Benny Gantz, the former military chief, who have called for a firm and immediate response, just as Israel did within hours of the 7 October attack by Hamas.

Their argument is that Israel needs to show strength and react now while the world’s memory of Iran’s barrage of missiles is still fresh.

The other side of the argument is that, partly in order to keep Israel’s international allies onside, it needs to listen to their calls for restraint and hold off, at least for now, while tensions are so high.

There are profound fears in the region, even among governments that dislike Iran, that an Israeli attack now on the Islamic Republic will inflame those tensions and prompt further retaliation by Iran leading to a dangerous escalation that could even drag in the US.

Those arguing for restraint by Israel point out that, despite the undoubted threat posed by Iran’s missiles and drones, when it comes to casualties nobody died in that attack.

By contrast, the presumed Israeli air strike on Iran’s Consulate building in Damascus on 1 April killed 13 people, including two top generals. Hence the advice given to Israel by President Biden: “Take the win.”

Israel's war cabinet has been meeting to weigh up the country's response to Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel over the weekend.

Tehran's action, in retaliation to Israel's strike on its consulate in Syria, has been strongly condemned by Israel's allies worldwide.

Let's take a look at some of today's main developments, as Israel considers how it will react to Iran:

• Addressing Parliament this afternoon, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on "all sides" to "show restraint" after Iran's attack on Israel on Saturday
• The PM said he would speak to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to express solidarity and discuss how to prevent "further escalation"

• Sunak told MPs Iran had sought to "plunge the Middle East into crisis", adding that Tehran's attack on Israel was "a reckless and dangerous escalation"

• His remarks echo the overwhelming reaction from Israel's foreign partners, who say any escalation to the ongoing conflict in the region should be avoided

• Belgium, France and Germany are among several countries who have summoned Iranian ambassadors, adding to the mounting international pressure on Tehran

• Tensions between Israel and Iran have been high for some time, with the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen firing drones and missiles towards Israel in response to the war in Gaza, and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon firing rockets towards Israel from the north

Image source, .

Belgium is joining several other countries in summoning its Iranian ambassador over Tehran’s attack on Israel.

Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib says: "We call on all parties to exercise the greatest restraint. A regional escalation is to be avoided."

Germany, France and the Czech Republic have already announced they would summon the Iranian envoys in their countries, adding to the international pressure on Iran.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands says it will re-open its embassy in Tehran tomorrow after closing it for two days for safety reasons.

However, it added: "The security of the representation continues to be closely monitored, making a new closure possible in the near future."

Image source, Reuters

Germany's Lufthansa Airlines says it will resume flights to and from Tel Aviv, Amman and Erbil tomorrow, after it halted services to and from the Middle East yesterday amid rising tensions.

Flights to Tehran and Beirut "will remain suspended until at least 18 April", the company says, adding that it will continue not to use Iranian airspace up to and including Thursday.

Israel reopened its airspace yesterday morning, as did Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon, which had stopped flights for a period after Iran launched its first-ever direct assault on Israel.

British airline EasyJet says it is pausing flights to and from Tel Aviv until April 21, due to "safety concerns".

• Read the latest on flight disruptions after Iran's attack on Israel here

We’re now hearing more from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who have confirmed four Israeli soldiers were inside Lebanon when they were injured in an overnight explosion.

Earlier, the IDF said the soldiers were injured in a blast in the "border area" to the north with Lebanon but they didn't say whether the troops had entered Lebanese territory.

Lebanon's Hezbollah, which has frequently clashed with Israeli forces in the north, says its forces detonated explosive devices after Israeli soldiers crossed into its territory.

Harry Farley
Political correspondent

In the wake of Iran’s attack on Israel, some commentators reflected on how the Western world’s attention may be diverted away from the humanitarian situation in Gaza and on to concerns about a wider regional conflict.

But what was interesting both from Lord Cameron’s media interviews this morning and the debate in the House of Commons was the determination from all political parties to keep a focus on Gaza.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisted the UK's efforts are focused on ensuring a pause in fighting and getting aid into Gaza.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “While there is no justification for Iran’s actions, we cannot be naive to the fact that one of the drivers of tension in the region is the ongoing war in Gaza.”

He repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

SNP deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black condemned the actions of Iran as "a cynical attempt to exploit the suffering, the pain and the turmoil being experienced by those people in Palestine".

She told the Commons: "The biggest continuing cause of conflict is the siege of Gaza, hence the need for a ceasefire.”

While the UK’s main political parties have united in condemning Iran’s attack, it seems they are also keen to keep the pressure on Tel Aviv over the situation in Gaza.

Image source, Reuters

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken with Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Tamim about security in the Middle East in the wake of the Iranian attack on Israel.

Blinken told Tamim that the US does not seek any escalation in hostilities with Iran, but that it would continue to defend Israel.

Tamim shared concerns from his government about the region being dragged into a wider war that will threaten international security and safety.

The meeting is just one of a flurry that Blinken has held since the attack, having also spoken to his counterparts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Britain and Germany, according to the State Department.

Here's a reminder of what Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other party leaders had to say in response to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's statement in Parliament:

• Starmer said Iran had "left the world a more dangerous place", and that its attack "must be wholly condemned"
• He called on Israel to show "strength and courage to de-escalate" and warned diplomatic premises should not be attacked following the strike on Iran's consulate in Syria- widely considered to be by Israel
• Starmer asked about sanctions on Iran, and called again for aid to Gaza to be "drastically scaled up", an immediate ceasefire and release of Israeli hostages
• The SNP's Mhairi Black condemned Iran's actions as "a cynical attempt to exploit the suffering, pain and turmoil being experienced" by Palestinians
• Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said all sides need to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, to get hostages released and to get aid in

Image source, Reuters

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says his country is open to new sanctions for individuals engaged in actions against Israel.

"If we need to have more sanctions for people clearly engaged against Israel, supporting for example terrorism, supporting Hamas, it is possible to do it," Tajani tells Reuters news agency.

But he adds that G7 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and UK - would need to be "very serious and to work all together".

His remarks follow an online call with G7 leaders on Sunday, who met to restate their support towards Israel after Iran launched more than 300 projectiles at Israel the previous day.

Image source, PA Media

If you've just joined us, here is a recap of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's statement to the Commons:

• Sunak said Iran sought to "plunge the Middle East into crisis" with its attack on Israel which was "without precedent" and "a reckless and dangerous escalation"
• He confirmed the UK destroyed a number of Iranian drones but did not clarify how many
• The prime minister said he has spoken to G7 leaders with whom he will explore coordinating "further diplomatic measures"
• He also said he will phone Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express solidarity with Israel but also to prevent further escalation
• Sunak said the conflict in Gaza "must end", highlighting the "appalling toll on civilians" and the need to see new aid crossings into Gaza
• He paid tribute to three British aid workers killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza and called for a humanitarian pause in Gaza