Israel launched a retaliatory strike against Iran early Friday morning local time, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.
The strike followed Iran's attack on Saturday, when Tehran sent a volley of more than 300 drones and missiles toward targets in Israel, according to Israeli military officials. All but a few were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States, officials said.
Iran's weekend attack came more than six months after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, after which the Israeli military began its bombardment of Gaza.
Israeli officials said the country's Iron Dome defense system endured a big test from Iran's attack on Saturday, intercepting 99% of the 300 "threats of various types" thrown at it.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari, launched 170 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more than 120 ballistic missiles and more than 30 cruise missiles in the attack.
Hagari said "99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted -- a very significant strategic achievement."
Hagari said the attack resulted in only one known Israeli casualty, a 7-year-old girl who was severely injured when she was struck by shrapnel apparently from an intercepted missile.
Apr 15, 2024, 1:14 PM EDT
Biden: We 'defeated' Iran
President Joe Biden on Monday touted the "unprecedented military effort to defend Israel" against Iran, declaring "together with our partners we defeated that attack."
0:39
Biden says US 'committed to Israel's security'
President Joe Biden addressed Iran's retaliatory attack against Israel while the prime minister of Iraq was visiting the White House.
In his first on-camera remarks since this weekend's Iranian strike, the president stressed that "the United States is committed to Israel's security."
"We're committed to a cease-fire that will bring the hostages home and preventing the conflict from spreading beyond what it already has" the president told reporters in the Oval Office ahead of his meeting with the Iraqi prime minister. "We are also committed to the security of our personnel and our partners in the region, including Iraq."
Apr 15, 2024, 11:07 AM EDT
'Majority' of intel came from coalition partners ahead of attack: Israeli Air Force official
A senior Israeli Air Force official said that the normalization of relations with Middle Eastern countries "served us during this crucial time" this weekend.
"It has to be clear that real assets" provided Israel with "information" and an "early warning," and the "majority" of that intelligence came from the coalition, the senior Israeli Air Force official said at a Monday briefing.
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran, in central Israel, Apr. 14, 2024.
Tomer Neuberg/AP
In terms of the types of drones and missiles used by Iran in the Saturday night attack, the official said Israel did not face any types of missiles that it had not shot down during attacks in recent months by Iranian proxies.
The official confirmed that only "a handful" of ballistic missiles fired by Iran were not intercepted.
"Five, more or less, managed to penetrate," the official said.
A view shows drones or missiles vying for targets at undisclosed locations in northern Israel, Apr. 14, 2024.
Atef Safadi/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
He said Israel's "strategic investment" in air defense capabilities, made years ago, had paid off, and called Israel shooting down nearly all missiles a "historic success."
The official was asked if Israel would be able to withstand a similar level of attack from Iran, without the support of allies such as the U.S.
"It would be more challenging,” the official conceded, but added that Israel has capabilities "to face this kind of challenge."
-ABC News’ Tom Soufi Burridge
Apr 15, 2024, 7:26 AM EDT
Iran 'not the power it purports to be,' White House adviser says
Israel on Saturday demonstrated its "military superiority" against Iran while also showcasing its partnership with military allies, including the United States, John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said Monday.
Israel said Sunday about 99% of the missiles and drones launched by Iran were intercepted by Israel and its allies, a defense that Kirby called a "tremendous success."
"I think it did show, did demonstrate that Iran is not the power that it purports to be, that it doesn't have that same military superiority," Kirby said on "Good Morning America."
2:52
White House urges caution as Israel weighs response to Iran missiles
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby answers questions about the nation's response to rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected on Monday to reconvene his war cabinet, a body that met on Sunday without deciding on a response to Iran's attack. And President Joe Biden and his G7 counterparts on Sunday released a statement urging Iran to cease its attacks.
"With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation," the G7 leaders' statement said. "This must be avoided."
A view of a damaged area, after Iran's mass drone and missile attack, at a location given as Nevatim Airbase, Israel, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released April 14, 2024.
Israel Defense Forces via Reuters
The United States would not participate in an Israeli response, if the country decides to strike back against Iran, U.S. defense and security officials said on Sunday.
But the final decision on whether Israel strikes back will fall to Netanyahu, Kirby said Monday.
"The president was also clear, as he has been throughout, that we do not seek a wider war in the region and we don't seek conflict with Iran," he said.
-ABC News' Kevin Shalvey
Apr 15, 2024, 5:13 AM EDT
Israeli war cabinet to reconvene Monday to consider response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected on Monday to meet with his war cabinet to discuss potential responses to Iran’s attack.
The cabinet had convened on Sunday, but ended their meeting without making a final decision about a response to Iran’s attack, a person with knowledge of the meeting told ABC News.
This handout picture courtesy of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office taken on April 14, 2024, shows Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, during a War Cabinet meeting at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Office/AFP via Getty Images
The cabinet members include Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Benny Gantz, a former minister of defense.
-ABC News’ Joe Simonetti, Jordana Miller and Kevin Shalvey