Israel’s military chief says his country will respond to Iran’s weekend attack, but did not elaborate on when and how.

The comment comes as world leaders urge Israel not to retaliate, in a bid to prevent a spiral of violence in the Middle East.

On Saturday, Iran fired hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles into Israel, in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike two weeks earlier on an Iranian consular building in Syria that killed two Iranian generals.

Regarding the action, Iran invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter, which grants countries the right to self defence if they come under attack.

Associated Press says it was the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Today, Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said that Israel is considering its next steps but that the Iranian strike “will be met with a response.”

The army’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, also stated that Israel will respond “at the time that we choose.”

Their comments come despite Western leaders seeking to de-escalate the situation , with the US in particular urging Israel to show restraint as it seeks to build a broad diplomatic response.