ISRAEL TO IRAN: YOU WILL PAY A PRICE

Chilling threat as fears of all-out contlict grow

- CHRIS HUGHES & LIZZY BUCHAN

IRAN was last night warned by G7 leaders that its Israel attack has put the region on the brink of war.

Benjamin Netanyahu was also urged to show restraint by US president Joe Biden, who told him to "think carefully" as tensions grow.

But an Israeli minister warned Iran would suffer a backlash for its missile and drone attack, which was fought off with the help of RAF warplanes, sparking fears the UK could be dragged into any wider conflict.

Experts warn tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Iran may explode, leading to further bloodshed in a region already devastated by the carnage in Gaza.

World leaders urged Tehran to pull back and Israel to show restraint to avoid the crisis getting out of control.

But Israeli officials were already briefing that a retaliatory attack would be launched against Iran "within 48 hours".

War cabinet minister Benny Gantz said: "We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us."

Israel's president Isaac Herzog called Iran's attack a "declaration of war" and said: "We are considering our options. I am confident we will take steps to protect our people."

But president Biden made "very clear" to Netanyahu "that we do have to think carefully and strategically about risks of escalation".

Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country has no intention of continuing the military operation against Israel, but warned: "If necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against new aggression."

Tehran sent 300 missiles and drones to hit Israel on Saturday, from its homeland and its proxies in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. It is the first time Tehran has directly targeted the country.

That was in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its consular building in Damascus, Syria, that killed 13 people.