ST. LOUIS — On Monday night, the White House and the world were waiting and watching for Israel's next move after Iran's unprecedented attack this weekend.
The U.S. joined Israel and other allies in successfully shooting down nearly all of the 300-plus missiles and drones launched.
President Joe Biden is seeking to stave off a wider regional conflict. It's the latest chapter in the decades of tension between the two nations.
But those with family on both sides told 5 On Your Side this weekend's attacks felt different.
The day before Iranian drone and missile attacks Saturday, Jewish Federation of St. Louis President and CEO Brian Herstig was grounded in Israel his flight home delayed for several hours.
"I was on What's App with several friends, family, our guide that we had just left a couple of days before kind of getting real-time updates on what was going on," Herstig said Monday. "It was clear that people were prepared."
Herstig spent almost a week across the country meeting with Israeli colleagues and families of those lost or still being held hostage in the war with Hamas.
"I don't think that people there expected a direct attack from Iran which it has not done since Ayatollah took over in 1979 and not to that magnitude of 300 drones and 100 missiles and those kinds of things," Herstig said. "The sheer number really probably was striking."
Iranian leaders said as far as they're concerned, the matter is now over. Calling this weekend's attacks retaliation for an Israeli air strike on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria on April 1, killing two generals and five officers.
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri) condemned the attacks as well as calls for further retaliation. Senator Josh Hawley also reacted on social media with, "Now more than ever, America must stand unequivocally with Israel."
Some Iran-Americans have called this weekend's attacks, "a childish thing," said Donya Ziraksari, an author, human rights activist, and engineer based out of Houston.
"They just did it to show power or poke at Israel," Ziraksari told 5 On Your Side. "That could be detrimental to the innocent people of Iran and everybody in that region."
Ziraksari continues to combat the stigma between her home country and the Islamic Republic which the U.S. State Department calls a dangerous anti-western religious government.
"In an Iranian house, you immediately feel welcomed," Ziraksari said. "You immediately feel wanted, loved and cared for. So Iranian people, Persian people, are absolutely not the same as the Islamic Republic."
5 On Your Side will continue to follow the latest developments in the Middle East. You can find updates on-air, online and on the 5+ App or text the word "ISRAEL" to 314-425-5355.