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

The IDF says it struck military targets of terrorist organizations in Gaza.

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.


What to know about Iran's attack on Israel

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.


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US helped 'take down nearly all' incoming drones, missiles: Biden

The U.S. helped "Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles," President Joe Biden said in a statement late Saturday evening.

The president also detailed his call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the attacks, where Biden said he reaffirmed America's "ironclad commitment to the security of Israel." He also said that his team would stay in "close touch" with Israel's leaders.

Biden said his team will engage with the G7 leaders on Sunday to coordinate a "united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack."

He noted that though American forces were not impacted, forces will continue to monitor and "will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people."
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart


31 people treated for stress, minor injuries going to shelters: Israeli police

According to Israeli police, Magen David Adom EMTs and paramedics were dispatched to 31 casualties in mild condition with anxiety symptoms or injuries caused while seeking shelter.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky


Congress shows bipartisan support for Israel

Congressional members from both sides of the aisle are out in full force expressing their full support for Israel and its right to defend itself from strikes by Iran.

Republicans are also calling on President Joe Biden to do more to assist Israel and to get tougher on Iran.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, in a particularly strongly-worded statement, called on the administration to "lead an international effort to impose sufficient costs on Tehran to compel an end to its aggression and terror, both on Israeli soil and -- as demonstrated with today’s IRGC assault on a commercial shipping vessel -- around the region."

Congress has not yet approved additional aid to Israel specific to the escalating conflict in the region since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

The Senate approved billions in aid for Israel as part of its national defense supplemental, including aid for Ukraine. The House has not taken it up, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has instead said he's working on crafting yet-to-be-announced modifications to that package.

In a statement Saturday night, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the House will "move from its previously announced legislative schedule next week to instead consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable."

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin and John Parkinson


Biden and Netanyahu to speak this evening

A senior administration official confirmed to ABC News President Biden and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are planning to speak Saturday evening.

President Biden is currently back in the Situation Room in a follow-up meeting with his national security team. The first meeting they had this afternoon in lasted for approximately two hours.

The official said they could reconvene the meetings again later tonight.
-ABC News' Selina Wang


US warns of policy changes if Israel doesn't take action to better protect civilians

President Joe Biden spoke Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, their first conversation since seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Biden had strongly condemned the incident, which Israel's said was unintentional, saying he was "outraged."

Biden further expressed to Netanyahu that the strikes on the food relief workers and the overall humanitarian crisis in Gaza are "unacceptable," according to a White House readout of the call.

For the first time, the White House hinted the president may consider a change in U.S. policy with respect to Gaza if Israel doesn't take action to better protect civilians and aid workers.

"He made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers," the readout read. "He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps."

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-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Alexandra Hutzler