US, UK unveil sweeping sanctions on Iran in response to its attack on Israel

The large-scale attack involved more than 300 drones and missiles, most of which were shot down by Israel and its allies including the US and the UK, causing little damage.

The United States and the United Kingdom announced widespread sanctions against Iran's military drone program on Thursday (Apr 18) in response to its weekend attack against Israel.

Washington is targeting "16 individuals and two entities enabling Iran's UAV production, including engine types that power Iran's Shahed variant UAVs, which were used in the Apr 13 attack," the Treasury Department said in a statement, referring to Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle program.

Tehran launched its first-ever direct military attack on Israel late on Saturday in retaliation for an Apr 1 air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus - widely blamed on Israel - that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals.

The large-scale attack involved more than 300 drones and missiles, most of which were shot down by Israel and its allies including the US and the UK, causing little damage.

In response to the attacks, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel reserves the right to protect itself.