Israel-Gaza updates: 22, including 18 children, reported dead in Rafah strikes

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told ABC's "Good Morning America" Sunday that any response to Iran's Saturday night attack is up to Israeli forces.

But Kirby stressed that President Joe Biden does not want the situation to escalate or have the U.S. drawn further into any conflict.

When asked by ABC News' Whit Johnson about a response from Israel, Kirby said that it is up to the Israeli government to decide how to respond. He added that "the damage was extremely light," and the defenses in place proved Israel can defend itself.

"I won't speak for the Israelis. It's going to be up to them to decide whether and how they'll respond to this," Kirby said. "They showed last night, an incredible military capability on their own, but certainly in concert with friends."

When pressed about reports that Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the U.S. would oppose a counterattack on Iran, Kirby said it was "not an accurate reading" of the president's message. He emphasized that the White House does not "want to see the situation escalate further."

"The president understands the prime minister runs a government for a sovereign state of Israel, and that they'll decide whether and how they're going to respond to what Iran did last night," Kirby said.

Kirby reiterated the White House's message that the president will do "whatever he has to protect our troops and our facilities, our people in the region." He said there is no current threat to U.S. service members and facilities, noting that more U.S. forces moved into the region after Oct. 7 to help defend Israel and shipping channels in the Red Sea.

"We're going to obviously be vigilant to any potential threat to our forces in the region," Kirby said. "But the president has been clear we are not looking for a wider war. We're not looking for a second front or a third front. We're not looking to see escalation and we're certainly not looking for a war with Iran."

Kirby added that good intelligence about the attack helped the U.S. and Israel prepare.

"We've been watching as closely as we could the intelligence picture, we had a pretty good indication of the size and the scale and the scope of what Iran was planning," Kirby said. "That is why, because we had a good sense of what they were going to do and with how much, we were able to really help Israel knock down almost everything that Iran threw at them."

The Iranian envoy to the United Nations said Sunday that "the issue can be considered closed," referencing Iran's attack on Israel.

The envoy also warned the U.S. to "stay away" from the escalating conflict between the two countries.

"If the Israeli regime makes another mistake, the response of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be considerably more severe," the envoy said, referring to Israel's strike earlier this month on Iran's Consulate in Damascus, Syria, that killed a top Iranian military leader. "This is a conflict between Iran and the rogue regime of Israel, and America should stay away from it."

Iran's state news agency IRNA also reported Sunday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stern warning to the U.S. "against supporting and participating in any action that harms Iranian interests. In its statement, the IRGC threatened "a reciprocal and proportional response to American and Israeli threats originating from any country."

The Iranian foreign minister posted on his X account: "Exercising the right of legitimate defense shows Iran's responsible approach to regional and international peace and security. At this point, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention of continuing defensive operations, but if necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against any new aggression."

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian and Dana Savir

Israeli military officials on Sunday said the Iranian attack had been "thwarted" by Israel and its allies, but warned that the threat of further strikes continued.

Most of the more than 300 drones, missiles and other threats Iran launched were intercepted by Israeli and allied defenses before entering Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

"99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted -- a very significant strategic achievement," IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

The military defense was coordinated with a group of international allies, including the United States, United Kingdom and France, Hagari said.

"This partnership has always been robust, but last night it was exceptionally evident," he said.

The attack included at least 170 uncrewed drones, none of which made it into Israeli territory, he said.

About 25 of the 30 cruise missiles launched were intercepted by Israeli fighter jets before entering Israel, Hagari said.

And more than 120 ballistic missiles were launched, with "only a few" striking targets within Israel, he said. Those that made it through struck Nevatim Air Force Base, causing "minor damage to infrastructure," he said. The base remained open, he added.

"However, it is important to say -- the event is not over," Hagari said. "We remain prepared and ready for further developments and threats."

-ABC News' Edward Szekeres and Kevin Shalvey

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem early on Sunday lifted its shelter-in-place order for US government employees after the threat from Iranian drones and missiles "diminished."

But the embassy warned that security in Israel "remains complex" and can change quickly.

"The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness as security incidents often take place without warning," the embassy said in a security alert.

-ABC News' Christopher Boccia and Kevin Shalvey