WORLD HOLDS ITS BREATH AS ISRAEL VOWS TO 'EXACT A PRICE'

FEARS of all-out war have intensified after Israel vowed to "exact a price" for Iran's unprecedented attack with 330 drones and missiles.

- Giles Sheldrick

RAF fighter pilots joined US colleagues to blast the Iranian bombardment out of the skies and protect Israel from an attack that drew worldwide condemnation.

Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden led appeals for restraint after the rogue state's airborne assault prompted Israeli officials to seek immediate retribution.

The Prime Minister said: "What we now need is for calm heads to prevail." Israel's President Isaac Herzog called the attack a "declaration of war". He insisted that Israel did not want a war but suggested it would retaliate after Iran's massive air onslaught.

He said it was "about time the world faces this empire of evil in Tehran" and makes it clear that its behaviour is "unacceptable".

President Herzog told Sky News: "It's a declaration of war...we are considering all options and I'm quite confident we will take the necessary steps to protect and defend our people."

Meanwhile, retired army general and Israel war cabinet minister Benny Gantz a close aide to the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us."

At a press conference yesterday, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, of the Israel Defence Forces, praised the response from the "regional alliance" which helped down "99%" of the missiles fired.

He accused Iran of trying to "ignite the Middle East and escalate the region" by firing 60 tons of suicide drones, cruise and ballistic missiles and rockets - and insisted his army was on high alert.

He added: "We will continue to protect the State of Israel and, together with our partners, we will continue to build a more secure and stable future for the entire Middle East."

As the world waited in trepidation for the next move Mr Sunak said: "If this attack had been successful the fallout for regional stability would be hard to overstate.

Simmering