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Iran's response to the attack was severe; Restraint is required

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Israel's war cabinet was due to meet again on Monday as the country weighs a response to Iran's missile and drone attack, amid global fears that the Middle East could be heading towards a larger war.

Cabinet members gathered on Sunday and agreed in favor of some form of retaliation for Saturday's attack – the first time Iran has attacked Israel directly from its own territory – but disagreed on the timing and scale the next steps.

All eyes were on Israel as world leaders urged restraint. “We are on the edge of the cliff and we have to get away from it,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. We have to hit the brakes and put ourselves in reverse.”

President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. will defend its longtime ally but would not take part in a response to Saturday's attack.

Iran launched the attack on April 1 because of a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Syria. A U.S.-led coalition of fighter jets and marines helped intercept the more than 300 missiles and drones, and damage to Israel was limited.

Developments:

∎ Israel remained on high alert Monday, but authorities lifted some restrictions on large gatherings and school activities.

∎ Oil prices fell on Monday and analysts cited limited damage from the attack in Iran.

∎ Humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip has increased significantly in recent days, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Monday.

∎ U.S. Central Command said Monday that its forces destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in an act of self-defense. Since the war between Israel and Hamas, Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have carried out dozens of rocket and drone attacks on ships traveling in the Red Sea commercial waterway, a key trade route.

What's next? Israel's long-simmering conflict with Iran is emerging from the shadows

Two senior Israeli officials have stressed that while retaliation is not imminent, a response will be carefully planned – and Iran will face the consequences.

“We will form a regional coalition and demand the price from Iran in the way that is right for us and at the right time,” said Minister Benny Gantz.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would seek to create a strategic alliance “against this serious threat from Iran.”

Israel's allies in Europe urged the country on Monday to proceed cautiously.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Israel to make the isolation of Iran its goal. “We will do everything we can to prevent the situation from flaring up,” he said.

“Israel has won defensively thanks to its strong air defenses and the efforts of the USA, Great Britain and Arab states,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. “Now we have to prevent escalation in the region.”

Russia, which refrains from criticizing its ally Iran, also spoke out. “We are extremely concerned about the escalation of tensions in the region,” said spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “We call on all countries in the region to exercise restraint.”

Iran's missile and drone attack was in retaliation for Israel's suspected attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, which killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers, including two top commanders.

But the attack followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran's regional allies and was sparked by the Gaza war, which has spread to fronts with Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, when Hamas militants brutally attacked Israeli border communities, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages. A subsequent bombing of the Gaza Strip by Israel has left over 33,000 Palestinians dead and sparked a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave.

Featuring: Francesca Chambers, Tom Vanden Brook; Reuters

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