Israel-Iran Conflict Highlights: Israel Army Chief Tells Soldiers Attack 'Will Be Met With Response'
Israel-Iran Conflict Highlights: Tensions reached their peak Saturday since the Israel-Hamas war began in Oct 2023 as Iran attacked Israel in retaliation of Syria airstrike that killed at least 13.
Israel army chief tells soldiers Iran attack 'will be met with response', AFP reported.
Today, Israel's war cabinet is scheduled to convene at 2:00 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET) to deliberate on its course of action following Iran's unprecedented attack on Saturday night. According to an Israeli official speaking to CNN, an extended war cabinet session on Sunday concluded without reaching a decision regarding the response strategy.
While the cabinet remains resolute in its determination to act, specific details regarding the timing and extent of the response are yet to be finalised.
After a remote meeting in attendance of US President Joe Biden and in leadership of Italy's Georgia Meloni, the grouping released a statement condemning "in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel."
"Israel, with the help of its partners, defeated the attack. We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security. With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided. We will
continue to work to stabilize the situation and avoid further escalation," it added.
"In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives.
We will also strengthen our cooperation to end the crisis in Gaza, including by continuing to work towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release
of hostages by Hamas, and deliver increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need," it further stated.
The White House released a photo on Sunday showing US President Joe Biden interacting with the leaders of the G7. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Mideast coordinator Brett McGurk are also seen, CNN reported.
The White House said in a post on X that the leaders “condemned Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel and reaffirmed the G7's commitment to Israel's security.”
The meeting was called to discuss what Biden termed as an "urgent diplomatic response" to Iran's attack.
The G7 meeting has now concluded, CNN reported citing an administration official.
EAM S Jaishankar speaks to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. He posts on X, "Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch."
Iranian Army's Chief Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said, "If the illegitimate regime insists on aggressive actions, it will face a heavier and tougher punishment. We also warn the US leaders that if they support the Zionist regime, all the US bases and interests in the region will be attacked by the Islamic Republic of Iran", as quoted by IRNA news agency.
"Israelis spent a nervous Saturday evening with reports of hundreds of projectiles coming their way from Iran. But there was also a sense of calm that prevailed all along with Israel Defense Forces sending out reassuring messages, saying that they were totally prepared for all sorts of aggression from Iran, and they were in a position to intercept all the missiles that would be fired from Iran," reports PTI's Harinder Mishra from Jerusalem.
Earlier in the day, Israel said that its air defences thwarted 99 per cent of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched toward its territory by Iran. Iran had launched an attack on Israel in response to a strike widely blamed on Israel that hit an Iranian consular building in Syria earlier this month and killed two Iranian generals.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) slams Iran's attack on Israel, calls for restraint. "We condemn Iran’s overnight escalation, call for restraint, and are monitoring developments closely," NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said Sunday in a post on X. "It is vital that the conflict in the Middle East does not spiral out of control," she said.
The EU condemned in the Iranian drone and missile attacks against Israel with its High Representative stating, "This is an unprecedented escalation and a threat to regional security. The EU reiterates its commitment to the security of Israel. In this highly tense regional situation, further escalation can be no one’s interest. We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint. The EU remains fully committed to contribute to de-escalation and the security of the region and is in close contact with all sides to this end."
Israeli War Cabinet Minister, Benny Gantz, has vowed that Israel will retaliate against Iran following the recent drone and missile attack. Gantz asserted on Sunday that Israel "will exact a price from Iran in a way and time that suits us." His statement comes in the wake of the Iranian assault, which targeted Israel but resulted in minimal damage, showcasing what Gantz described as the strength of the Israeli security system, CNN reported.
Gantz highlighted that the attack demonstrated "the world clearly stood together with Israel in the face of the danger." Despite this show of solidarity, he emphasised that the situation is ongoing, indicating the necessity to "build a regional coalition and extract a price from Iran, in a way and at a time that suits us."
Moreover, Gantz underscored Israel's ongoing concerns, including the imperative to bring home hostages and secure borders, particularly in the southern and northern regions. He expressed the need for residents who evacuated their homes near these borders to be able to return safely, CNN reported.
Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock has issued a stark warning about the precarious security situation in the Middle East following Iran's recent attack on Israel.
According to CNN, Baerbock emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, "The Iranian regime has brought the entire Middle East to the brink of disaster with deliberate intent." She highlighted Israel's vital role in preventing further escalation, acknowledging their "effective air defenses and strong partnerships" as crucial in averting a wider regional crisis. Baerbock also pointed to the widespread condemnation of Iran's actions, suggesting that while Iran finds itself increasingly isolated due to its aggressive behavior, Israel's defense capabilities remain robust.
Pope Francis has issued a poignant plea to leaders in the Middle East, urging them to refrain from further escalations and advocating for a commitment to peace.
Following his Sunday Angelus prayer, the pontiff made a heartfelt appeal for an end to actions that could exacerbate the region's already volatile situation. He stressed the importance of preventing any escalation that could plunge the Middle East into deeper conflict, CNN reported.
"No one should pose a threat to the existence of others," Pope Francis emphasised, calling for an end to warfare, attacks, and violence. Instead, he advocated for dialogue and the pursuit of peace as the way forward. “No more war, no more attacks, no more violence, yes to dialogue and yes to peace."
In addition to his call for peace, Pope Francis reiterated his support for a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated that Iran informed neighboring countries 72 hours prior to its attack of a “certain” response against Israel, CNN reported. Amir-Abdollahian told a news conference on Sunday in Tehran that Iran told the countries the operation would be “decisive” in the form of “legitimate defense."
“We consider the security of our neighbors and the region as the security of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added, as quoted by CNN.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby highlighted the success of Israeli and US efforts to intercept Iranian missiles and drones
"This was an incredible success, really proving Israel's military superiority and just as critically, their diplomatic superiority, that they have friends in the region, that they have around the world that are willing to help them," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Sunday, as quoted by CNN.
The Italian Presidency of the G7 has convened a remote meeting on Sunday to address Iran's recent attack against Israel, as stated in a brief announcement on Italy's official G7 presidency website.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed the initiative, stating that the Italian presidency of the G7 has arranged a conference at the leaders' level for the afternoon.
In a social media post, Meloni reiterated the Italian Government's condemnation of Iranian attacks on Israel and expressed deep concern over the potential escalation of tensions in the region. She affirmed the commitment to ongoing efforts aimed at preventing further destabilization.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says, "Iran’s attack last night was a dangerous and unnecessary escalation. I want to pay tribute to the professionalism and bravery of the @RoyalAirForce and our allies in protecting civilians.
"At this point, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention of continuing defensive operations, but if necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against any new aggression," Iran's FM H. Amirabdollahian on X .
The Embassy of India in Iran activates additional helpline numbers for assistance: +989128109115; +98993179567; +989932179359; +98-21-88755103-5
Ambassador of Israel to India Naor Gilon on Sunday said that a seven-year-old girl from south of Israel was severely injured after she was hit by a shrapnel in Iran's retaliatory assault.
READ FULL REPORT: Israel Intercepted 99% Of Iranian Rockets, 7-year-old Girl Severely Injured, Says Ambassador Naor Gilon
Major General Mohammad Baqeri, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, announced that Iran has completed its retaliatory strikes on the “occupied territories”. It further cautioned of a more “robust” reaction if the Israeli regime retaliates.
Baqeri stated on Sunday morning that while the operation is deemed concluded, Iranian armed forces remain prepared to act if necessary.
“The reason for this operation was the crossing of [Iran’s] red line by the Zionist regime, which cannot be tolerated in any way for us,” he said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, in an interview with Army Radio said, “We said that if Iran attacks Israel, we will attack it back and this is still effective. We need to deepen our cooperation with our allies. I will lead a political attack against Iran”.
Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer told Israeli Army Radio: “Iran’s audacity in such an attack must be erased.”
The Iranian mission to the United Nations earlier warned, “Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” adding the United States must “stay away”. (Al-Jazeera Input)
The government of Jordan confirmed the interception of "flying objects" that breached its airspace during Iran's recent attack on Israel, as stated in a cabinet statement.
Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, addressed the recent retaliatory attack by Iran against Israel.
Here's what he said:
“We are closely monitoring the situation and making all efforts to ensure minimal disruption to customers after recent airspace closures,” a spokesperson from the airline told Al-Jazeera.
Major General Hossein Salami, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has said Tehran’s attack on Israel was more successful than what was believed. “Up to this moment, our information on all the hits is not complete, but the part of the hits that we have accurate… reports about shows… that this operation happened with more success than expected,” the IRNA news agency quoted him as saying, as reported by RT.com.
Calling the Israel Defence Force "terrorist army”, he said the “Zionist authorities" and the US, which is an ally of Israel, “have recognized the devastating effects of these strikes better than we did.”
Israel’s chief military spokesperson says France was among the countries involved in defending against Iran’s overnight attack on Israel.
“France has very good technology, jets, radar – and I know they were contributing in patrolling airspace,” Daniel Hagari said, adding he did not have exact details on whether French fighter jets shot down the missiles launched by Iran.
The army claims to have intercepted 99 percent of the more than 300 projectiles fired. (Al-Jazeera Input)
The Israeli army announced on Sunday that Iran’s extensive attack on Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles has successfully “foiled”, with 99 per cent of the hostile projectiles intercepted.
WATCH | How Israel's Defence System Responded To Iran's Air Strike
Italy has called a video meeting of G7 leaders to discuss the Iranian attack on Israel, Reuters reported citing sources from the prime minister’s office. As per the news agency, the call will be held in the early afternoon, European time. Italy currently holds the rotating G7 presidency.
Notably, media reports said earlier that US President Joe Biden has planned to convene a G7 meeting “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack”.
Members of the Iranian parliament have voiced their support for the actions taken by the Iranian military against what they term "Zionist crimes".
Dmitry Polyansky, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said tensions between Israel and Iran could trigger a new acute crisis in the Middle East. "...we are now facing a fresh, highly acute crisis in the Middle East. Everything depends on whether the parties involved will make the next move or not," Russian news agency TASS quoting Polyansky as saying in a message on Telegram.
Dmitry Polyansky, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said tensions between Israel and Iran could trigger a new acute crisis in the Middle East. "...we are now facing a fresh, highly acute crisis in the Middle East. Everything depends on whether the parties involved will make the next move or not," Russian news agency TASS quoting Polyansky as saying in a message on Telegram.
Israel-Iran Tensions: As Tehran has launched a significant drone, and missile strike at Tel Aviv, ABP Live has curated all that you need to know. Click here to learn about some of the FAQs you may have.
Hours after Iran-backed Hezbollah drones were seen in Israeli artillery sites, Tehran initiated a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict by launching a barrage of explosives drones and missiles toward Israeli territory on Saturday. This marked the first direct attack on Israel by Iran. It comes in the wake of heightened tensions in the region. The attack has been condemned by several countries. The United Nations, condemning the attack, called for “immediate cessation of these hostilities”.
READ THE FULL REPORT: Iran Launches Drone Salvo Targeting Israel, Tensions Escalate As US Reaffirms ‘Ironclad’ Support To Netanyahu
Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese also condemned Iran’s attacks on Israel. “Iran has ignored our call, and those of many others, not to proceed with these reckless attacks,” said Albanese in a statement.
“This escalation is a grave threat to the security of Israel and the entire region,” he added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian last week said he had spoken with his German, UK and Australian counterparts about an attack on an Iranian consulate in Syria, which Tehran blames on Israel.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned in the “strongest possible terms” the Iranian attacks on Israel, Al-Jazeera reported citing a spokesperson.
“With this irresponsible and unjustifiable attack, Iran is risking a regional conflagration,” said Steffen Hebestreit. “In these difficult times, Germany stands closely by Israel. We will now discuss further reactions closely with our G7 partners and allies.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, meanwhile, expressed “full solidarity” with Israel, saying in a post on X, “Iran and its proxies must stop this immediately”.
The Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah said that it had launched a fresh barrage of rockets toward the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, hours after it joined in a major Iranian drone and missile attack targeting Israel.
Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has regularly traded cross-border fire with Israel since the start of the ongoing war in Gaza, said in a statement that it had launched “dozens of Katyusha rockets” at three Israeli military positions in the Golan, which Israel seized from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967. (AFP Input)
In a letter addressed to the United Nations, Iran reiterated its commitment to exercising its inherent right of self-defence, Tehran warned of a more forceful response to any future military aggression by Israel.
The Iranian mission to the UN cited Israel's attack on Iranian diplomatic premises on April 1 as the catalyst for its recent drone strikes on Israel. Iran justified its actions as self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. It further criticised the UN Security Council for its perceived failure to maintain international peace and security.
"This action was in the exercise of Iran's inherent right to self-defenseas outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, and in response to the Israeli recurring military aggressions, particularly its armed attack on 1st April 2024 against Iranian diplomatic premises, in the defiance of Article 2 (4) of the Charter of the United Nations," the Permanent Mission of Iran to the UN stated. (ANI Input)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently speaking with US President Joe Biden, following the deliberations of the Security Cabinet and the War Cabinet. pic.twitter.com/v2oJqMSky4
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 14, 2024
Iran-Israel Conflict LIVE: President Joe Biden said that U.S. forces helped take down “nearly all” the drones and missiles fired by Iran at Israel, adding that he had reaffirmed his “ironclad” support to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden added in a statement that he would convene his fellow leaders of the G7 group of wealthy nations to coordinate a “united diplomatic response” to Iran’s “brazen” attack. (AFP Input)
MEA stated that the hostilities between Israel and Iran threaten the peace and security in the region, hence it calls for an "immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence". India has urged both countries to "return to the path of diplomacy".
READ THE FULL REPORT: India Urges De-Escalation Amid Israel-Iran Tensions: Calls For Diplomacy To Prevail
Background
Israel-Iran Conflict Highlights: Iran initiated its first-ever direct assault on Israel late Saturday, firing a large number of explosive drones and missiles. This offensive was a direct response to an Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed at least 13 people, among them two senior officers of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
In a subsequent statement on Sunday, US President Joe Biden denounced Iran's actions and announced plans for a G7 meeting to discuss a collective diplomatic strategy. “Tomorrow, I will convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” he declared.
In the aftermath of the April 1 consulate attack, Iran had promised retribution against Israel. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reported by state television as stating: “We will make them regretful about the crime and similar acts.” Furthermore, Iran’s ambassador, Hossein Akbari, pledged to retaliate with equal severity and intensity.
As Iran launched the attack Saturday, US forces joined efforts to shoot the drones down. It was claimed that the forces shot down many drones flying towards Tel Aviv.
Biden said the US support was “ironclad” for Israel against all attacks by Iran and its proxies, even as Iran has warned of more attacks, and said the United Nations has failed in its duty. In a statement, Ambassador Amir Sayeed Iravani, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN, said they won't "hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defence when required".
Meanhwile, citing threat to “peace and security in the region”, India has called for an “immediate de-escalation” of the situation, asking for “exercise of restraint”. In a statement issued Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs said: “We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region.”
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