Western allies urge Israel to avoid escalation after Iran attack

ISRAEL'S allies have urged it to avoid any escalation, as it considers a response to Iran 's unprecedented missile and drone attacks. Tehran launched more than 300 projectiles at Israel on Saturday, in what it said was retaliation for a strike on its consulate in Syria.

Germany' s foreign minister ,

Annalena Baerbock, called for

calm. President Emmanuel Macron says France will do ever ything possible to a void a regional conflagration. David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, tells the BBC Iran 's attack had almost entirely

failed, and Israel should be

"smart as well as tough". Cameron also insists the UK' s efforts are focused on ensuring a pause in fighting and getting aid into Gaza.

The UN continues to warn that famine is imminent in parts of Gaza.

However, Israel’s military is said to have presented a range of options for potential strikes against Iran with the war cabinet now weighing them up in a meeting scheduled to have begun now.

An Israeli source has been briefing the media that Israel cannot allow such a large attack involving more than 300 drones and missiles, launched directly from Iran for the first time to pass without some kind of response.

Some Israeli politicians argue that a powerful message needs to be sent so that Iran doesn’t repeat its action.

However, key figures in the war cabinet have also been stressing the opportunity to strengthen the “strategic alliance” against the threat from Iran building on the support shown by America, the UK, Jordan and other allies in thwarting the attack.

During the assault, Israel says Iran tried to attack strategically important infrastructure including the Nevatim air force base.