Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran will pay a price for its missile barrage.

According to The Associated Press, Mr Netanyahu said, “Whoever attacks us, we attack them”.

The Israeli military said about 180 missiles were fired on Wednesday, most of which were intercepted.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House that U.S. destroyers fired missile interceptors at some of the inbound missiles.

He also called the attack “a significant escalation by Iran,” and reiterated there would be “severe consequences” for the attack.

Iran says the missiles were aimed at important military and security targets, in response to deadly attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.

A senior Iranian official reportedly told the Reuters news agency that the order to launch missiles at Israel was made by the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who remains in a secure location.