Cardinal Dolan describes the moment he ran for cover while hundreds of missiles rained down on Israel as Iran's drone armada attacked

American cardinal Timothy Dolan had to run for cover as Iran launched its drone assault on Israel during his visit to Bethlehem.

The Archbishop of New York is spending a week in Israel, in part to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. 

He began in Jerusalem on Friday and by Saturday night was in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, when Iran's drone armada arrived.

'This Sunday in Bethlehem all does seem calm and bright. And it is for us. We feel safe and secure,' he told his followers in a video on Sunday morning.

'That wasn't true in the middle of last night when the air raid sirens went off, and we had to go down and seek security at Notre Dame Center.

'But right now things look good, and we're grateful for that.'

Cardinal Timothy Dolan described how he had to run for cover as Iran launched its drone assault on Israel during his visit to Bethlehem

Iran launched 170 kamikaze drones and at least 120 rockets and 30 ballistic missiles at Israel, almost all of which the Iron Shield intercepted.

The Islamic dictatorship attacked in retaliation for Israel killing Iran's top soldier in Syria in a strike on the embassy in Damascus.

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi was assassinated along with other Revolutionary Guard commanders on April 1.

Cardinal Dolan linked Israel's long history of defending against attacks form its neighbors to his visit to the Creche, where nuns look after abandoned babies.

'They said to me, every time they get a new baby on our doorstep... who has no one to care for him or her, we feel it's Christmas all over again,' he said. 

Cardinal Dolan linked Israel's long history of defending against attacks form its neighbors to his visit to the Creche, where nuns look after abandoned babies

'As another one of God's children is born we have the honor to love them so tenderly and care for them.

'Those are messages of inspiration that you get here in the Holy Land that I think have given the people the resilience and hope for which they are famous.'

Cardinal Dolan began his trip in Jerusalem with a Shabbat dinner with Jewish leaders, and will stay in Israel and Palestine until Thursday.

Later on Sunday, he led mass at the Beit Jala Latin Parish in Neit Jala, near Bethlehem.

He then met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other members of his government in Ramallah on the West Bank.

Later on Sunday, he led mass at the Beit Jala Latin Parish in Neit Jala, near Bethlehem

He then met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on the West Bank

Other members of Abbas' government were also at the meeting

Before leaving for Bethlehem on Saturday, he led mass at Our Lady of Peace chapel of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center

Before leaving for Bethlehem on Saturday, he led mass at Our Lady of Peace chapel of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center.

He will meet other Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders and visit Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups.

The Iranian strike marks the first time a direct military assault has been launched by Tehran on Israel despite decades enmity dating back to the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

On Sunday morning, Israel said it 'foiled' Iran's unprecedented attack on its country and revealed 120 ballistic missiles along with 200 drones were used.

Syria  said Iran exercised its 'right to self-defense' in the attack on Israel.

And according to the New York Times, US President Joe Biden dissuaded Israel from giving the go-ahead on an immediate retaliation attack against Iran last night. 

Smoke billows over the area of an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel on April 14

Drones or missiles vying for targets at undisclosed locations in northern Israel yesterday

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said the U.S. has communicated to Iran 'what we would do' if American troops or facilities are targeted amid rising conflict in the Middle East.

President Joe Biden's National Security Council Spokesman reiterated the U.S. does not plan to get involved with counter attacks against Iran on behalf of ally Israel – but will continue to help defend the Jewish nation.

Amid Israel's ongoing war with Hamas terrorists in Gaza, some Republican lawmakers are not pleased with the Biden administration response so far with the escalating conflict and want a direct response to the attacks last night from Iran and its proxies.

'The president has made it clear: We do not seek a war with Iran. We don't seek a wider war in the region,' Kirby told NBC host Kristen Welker Sunday morning.