New Delhi: The Indian mission in Israel on Sunday issued a fresh advisory following a series of attacks on the Jewish State by Iran, where hundreds of projectiles were launched. The unprecedented assault, comprising 330 missiles and drones, was reportedly in retaliation to an alleged attack by Israel on a diplomatic installation of Iran in Damascus, resulting in casualties including two top commanders. In response to these developments, the Indian mission urged all Indian nationals in Israel to remain calm and adhere to safety protocols stipulated by local authorities, as per the important advisory posted on social media handles.
The Embassy assured that it is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining communication with Israeli authorities and the Indian community to ensure the safety of all nationals. It also urged Indian nationals to register with the embassy at a given link. Prior to this, the Indian embassy had issued an advisory on Friday, cautioning against unnecessary travel amidst speculation of retaliatory attacks by Iran and advising adherence to local safety guidelines.
Iran Attacks Israel
This marked the first instance of the Islamic Republic launching an attack on Israel from its own soil. Despite the intense situation, no country has initiated evacuation measures for their nationals, although advisories have been issued, including by the US. While schools and educational institutions have temporarily halted operations until Monday, government offices and businesses are largely operational, with strict adherence to guidelines issued by the Home Front.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson said, "99 percent of the nearly 330 missiles and drones launched by Iran were successfully intercepted, but that the threat is not over". Iran has issued a warning of a potential larger attack on Israeli territory if retaliated against, extending the threat to target US bases should Washington support any Israeli military action. The United States, France, Britain, and Jordan are reported to have assisted in intercepting the projectiles fired by Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X, saying, "We intercepted, we stopped [the attack]. Together we will win."
Hamas called the Iranian attack a natural right.Iranian threat had led to worldwide diplomatic initiatives to thwart a possible further conflagration in the region already struggling with Israel's offensive in Gaza following a terror attack carried out by Hamas in its territory on October 7 and also regular exchange of fire between the Jewish state and Lebanese Shia faction Hezbollah, which joined the war in solidarity with Hamas.
Houthis, viewed as proxies of Iran in Yemen, in attacks against Israel and assets of supportive nations has heightened concerns over regional stability. These actions have disrupted international waters and global trade routes, posing significant challenges for maritime security and commerce. Additionally, amidst preparations for elections, some analysts speculate that the United States may refrain from endorsing Israeli retaliation due to fears of potential repercussions on the oil market and subsequent economic turmoil that can adversely impact President Joe Biden's re-election bid.