Israel will do 'everything necessary' for defense, Netanyahu says

STORY: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that "we will make our own decisions, and the State of Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself," after coming under attack by a volley of Iranian missiles and drones last weekend.

Western countries, pleading for restraint, have dispatched their top diplomats to Jerusalem.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin stood in full solidarity with Israel but warned the region must not "step by step slide into a situation with a totally unpredictable outcome."

DAVID CAMERON: "Well, look it's right to be in, here in Israel today to show solidarity after that appalling attack by Iran."

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he expected an Israeli response to Iran, hoping it would be limited.

"But it's clear the Israelis are making a decision to act. We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible, and in a way that, as I said yesterday, is smart as well as tough."

The Iranian attack on Saturday included cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and explosive drones. They were mostly shot down by Israel and its allies and caused no deaths.

Iran said the bombardment was retaliation for a presumed Israeli strike that killed senior Iranian military figures in a diplomatic compound in Damascus earlier in April.

Following the attack, Iran's foreign minister warned Israel against reprisals, saying "it will definitely face a decisive and harsh response."

Washington says it is planning to impose new sanctions targeting Iran's missile and drone program in coming days and expects its allies will follow suit.

EU leaders are due to discuss sanctions at a summit in Brussels, and sanctions are also on the agenda at G7 talks in Italy.