Most of Monday’s papers lead with the fallout from the unprecedented Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel, including the entire front page of the Financial Times. The FT’s Middle East editor, Andrew England, says the attack risks a widening of the conflict both Arab and western leaders have feared. He notes that the escalation has dealt a “heavy blow” to hopes of dampening the regional crisis.
The Daily Express is one of several front pages to showcase a picture of Israeli air defence working to intercept missiles or drones in the night sky. Its lead story focuses on Israel’s vow to “extract a price” for attacks from Iranian soil, reporting that 330 drones and missiles were fired.
The UK, US and other allied countries are “engaged in frantic diplomacy to avert a wider war”, according to the i’s reporting. The paper says Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for “calm heads to prevail” at a meeting of G7 nations, while Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has warned Iran to “stop these reckless attacks”.
The Daily Mirror’s lead story focuses on a warning G7 leaders issued to Iran, after they told Tehran its actions have put the Middle East on the brink of war. The paper reports US president Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show restraint and “think carefully” over its potential response to the massive aerial assault.
The Guardian’s coverage chooses to examine a warning it says the US has issued to Israel. Washington told the Israeli government that the US military will not take part in any retaliatory action against Iran, while American officials also warned the attack could have been “catastrophically destructive had they not been intercepted”, the paper says.
The Daily Mail reports Israel was “pulled back from the brink of immediate retaliation” by an intervention from US President Joe Biden. But Israeli politicians have suggested they are “biding their time” and will respond once a “consensus among western and Middle Eastern allies” is formed, the paper reports.
The Times also leads with Israel’s promise of retribution, reporting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have approved both “offensive and defensive” responses to the weekend barrage. The paper also notes the Iranian government had “indicated that it had accomplished its objectives and was ready to stand down”, while also warning any Israeli reprisal would be met by a a “heavier and regretful response”.
The Sun chooses to focus on the use of British fighter jets to down some of the Iranian projectiles, reporting that at least four RAF Typhoons were scrambled from the UK’s airbase in Cyprus. These “RAF Top Guns” flew what the paper says was the “biggest air-to-air battle” the UK has taken part in since the Falklands war in 1982.
The Daily Star leads with a story that a “mega millionaire who plans to rebuild the Titanic” has developed a cunning plan – to add more lifeboats. “Give that man a medal”, the paper jokes.
