TEL AVIV, Israel - Israel has suffered casualties as Iran fights back from the Jewish state's unprecedented unilateral attacks which began in the early hours of Friday morning.

Late Friday night Iran launched scores of drones and missiles at Israel, however most were intercepted, or failed to reach their targets, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Explosions have been seen in Tel Aviv. CNN are quoting U.S. officials as telling them the United States is assisting Israel in responding to the drone and missiles barrage.

Seven deaths have been recorded. Two woman injured by missiles late Friday night, died in hospital on Saturday morning. A third person, Israel Aloni, 73, was died Saturday morning in a missile attack in Rishon Lezion. He is the only victim to have been named. On Saturday 4 people were killed and more than a dozen injured when a second barrage of missiles from Iran hit northern Israel.

In a statement, the IDF said that less than 100 projectiles were fired at Israel in the first wave, and there were only "a few hits."

Sirens were sounded across Israel as the retaliatory attack began. 

Photo credit | AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV

Twenty-six people were rushed to Sheba Medical Center, 1 in critical condition, and two were moderate. 13 people have been rushed to Belinson Hospital, one in critical condition, 2 in moderate. Nineteen people have been rushed to Ichilov Medical Center, 4 in moderate condition, The Jerusalem Post reported Saturday..

Earlier Iran's supreme leader vowed to respond to the Israeli attacks. "Strong action should be taken, and will be taken," Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in a televised address to the nation.. "We will have no leniency on them. Life will undoubtedly turn bleak for them,," he said.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement shortly before midnight Friday, that the Iranian force's missile and drone units had targeted the Israeli military bases that had been used to initiate the strikes on Iran, as well as industrial weapon manufacturing and other military sites deep in Israel. The statement said intelligence collected, including through satellite imagery, showed dozens of ballistic missiles had hit their targets.