Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates: Egyptian FM Speaks To Israeli And Iranian Counterparts To Uphold 'Peace'
Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates: 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.
Background
Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates: Iran launched its first direct military assault against Israel on Saturday. According to the Israeli military, Iran dispatched over 200 drones laden with explosives towards Israel. Subsequently, Iran declared that it had also deployed significantly more destructive ballistic and cruise missiles.
The threat of an Iranian attack on Israel had been looming following an airstrike earlier in the month, widely attributed to Israel, which obliterated Iran's consulate in Syria, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals, including two high-ranking Iranian generals. In a statement issued on early Sunday, the Israeli Defence Forces reported that the "vast majority" of missiles launched by Iran were intercepted before reaching Israeli territory.
US President Joe Biden urged the Group of Seven advanced democracies on Sunday to stand together in denouncing Iran for its unprecedented and largely unsuccessful aerial assault on Israel, aiming to prevent a broader regional crisis, according to reports from AP. The United States provided support to Israel in intercepting and neutralising numerous drones and missiles launched by Tehran, constituting Iran's inaugural direct military strike on Israel.
Earlier, White House official John Kirby, speaking on ABC's "This Week" programme on Sunday, stated that the United States will continue assisting Israel in self-defence efforts but is not seeking conflict with Iran, as reported by Reuters. When asked about potential Israeli retaliation against Iran, Kirby reaffirmed the US's unwavering commitment to defending Israel and aiding in its self-defence efforts.
“And as the president has said many times, we don’t seek a wider war in the region. We don’t seek a war with Iran. And I think I will leave it at that,” Kirby added.
Iran asserted in its communication to the United Nations that the operation was carried out in the exercise of Iran's inherent right to self-defence, as stipulated in Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates: US treasury secretary warns strengthened sanctions on Iran
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Treasury would use its sanctions and work with partners to "continue disrupting the Iranian regime's malign and destabilizing activity." Speaking in a news conference in Washington, DC, Yellen said: “From this weekend’s attack to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Iran’s actions threaten the region’s stability and could cause economic spillovers”, as quoted by CNN.
Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates: Egyptian Foreign Minister speaks to Israeli and Iranian counterparts to uphold 'peace'
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry spoke to his Israeli and Iranian counterparts stressing upholding "tranquility and peace," as world leaders aim to contain the risk of a wider regional West Asia war.
Shoukry told CNN that the reciprocal attack between Israel and Iran is “in no way conducive to dealing with the long-standing issues and conflicts in the region.”
“This will get us into a never-ending cycle of reprisal that will only lead to a wider-scale confrontation, with very severe consequences for both peoples in both countries,” Shoukry said, as quoted by CNN.
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