Israel says Iran conflict is not over and vows to ‘collect a price’

An Israeli War Cabinet minister has claimed the conflict with Iran is not yet over – and Israel will ‘collect a price’ for Iran’s Saturday night strike.

Benny Gantz said Israel will respond to Iran’s attacks when the ‘timing is right’ – after the country intercepted over 300 drones and missiles in an unprecedented attack this weekend.

Mr Gantz said: ‘Yesterday, Iran launched an attack on Israel – and met the strength of the Israeli security system.

‘This event is not over – the strategic alliance and the regional cooperation system that we built and stood its significant test need to be strengthened precisely now.

‘Faced with the threat of Iran – we will build a regional coalition and collect the price from Iran, in the way and at the time that suits us.’

The US has reconfirmed their commitment to Israel’s defence, but spokesperson John Kirby said they will not partake in any attack on Iran, adding: ‘We don’t seek escalated tensions in the region. We don’t seek a wider conflict.’

The US, UK and France all assisted in shooting down drones fired towards Israel, it has been confirmed.

RAF jets have been used to shoot down drones, part of Iran’s retaliation to Israel’s incineration of a consulate building in Syria on April 1, in which some of Iran’s top commanders were killed.

Aircraft in Iraq and Syria have been sent to intercept ‘any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions,’ the Ministry of Defence said after prime minister Rishi Sunak was quick to side with Israel.

Sunak confirmed today that RAF pilots had downed ‘a number of’ Iranian drones.

‘Iran’s attack last night was a dangerous and unnecessary escalation,’ he said in broadcast remarks.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency war cabinet to discuss the situation late on Saturday night.

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