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, 2:55 PM EDT
Iranian attack 'will be met with a response': Israeli military chief
As Israel's Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi met with troops at the Nevatim Airbase, where Iranian missiles struck over the weekend, he said Israel is weighing possible response actions.
"As we look forward, we weigh our steps, and this launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles, UAVs to the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response," Halevi said.
-ABC News’ Jordana Miller
Apr 15, 2024, 1:54 PM EDT
US to Israel: If you strike back at Iran, you'll do it alone
As Israel on Monday weighed its response to Iran’s weekend attack, the U.S. is privately telling officials there: If Israel strikes back militarily, it will do so alone.
An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel April 14, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Amir Cohen/Reuters
It's an unusual message for a close ally that's spent decades receiving more U.S. military aid than any other country in the world and whose relationship with America is often described as "ironclad."
But after months of Israel acting on its own in Gaza -- and facing tough criticism from the U.S. and other allies that its military operations have gone too far – the Biden administration made clear the U.S. wouldn't participate in offensive military operations against Iran, fearing a broader war in the Middle East.
"We believe Israel has freedom of action to protect itself and defend itself," a senior administration official told reporters shortly after Iran's attack ended. "That's a long-standing policy, and that remains."
Israeli tanks move along the border with the Gaza Strip before entering into the Gaza Strip, Apr. 10, 2024, in Southern Israel.
Amir Levy/Getty Images
When asked by a reporter if the U.S. would help Israel counter with offensive military operations, the official said no.
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."