'Risk of escalation is higher than ever'

Israel has vowed victory over Iran's retaliatory drone and missile strikes as Australia condemned the attack and urged the Middle Eastern nation not to exacerbate conflict.

Iran launched the unprecedented attack on Israeli positions as sirens sounded in many places and blasts were heard in the skies above Jerusalem early Sunday.

Iran had repeatedly threatened to strike Israel in retaliation for a deadly 1 April air strike on its Damascus consular annex and Washington had warned repeatedly in recent days that the reprisals were imminent.