1. The Middle East faces a heightened risk of conflict as Iran and Israel engage in retaliatory actions.
2. Iran’s significant drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13 follows an Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria.
3. Tensions escalate as both nations resort to military measures in a dangerous tit-for-tat.
Washington, D.C., April 15: The Middle East teeters on the edge of a potentially catastrophic conflict as Iran and Israel escalate tensions through retaliatory measures.
On April 13, Iran launched a substantial drone and missile assault on Israel in response to an Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, claimed that Iran had provided a 72-hour notice to neighboring countries and the United States before the attack. However, a senior official from the Biden administration refuted this claim, stating that the US had not received any prior warning from Iran.
Here are the latest developments:
- Turkish, Jordanian, and Iraqi officials asserted that Iran had indeed given advance notice of the strike on Israel to neighboring countries and the United States.
- However, a senior official in the Biden administration denied these assertions, stating that Washington did not receive any warning from Tehran until after the attack had begun.
- According to reports from ABC News, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) presented several military response options to the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu following the Iranian attack. These options range from retaliatory strikes to refraining from immediate action, with the Israeli war cabinet reportedly divided over the timing and scale of a potential response.
- Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari emphasized that Israel remains on high alert in the aftermath of the attack, with operational plans for offensive and defensive actions approved and ready for implementation.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations, Iran’s actions were met with condemnation and admonition:
- US Ambassador Robert A. Wood cautioned Tehran of potential repercussions during a UN Security Council meeting, warning against further targeting of Israel or the US.
- The UK’s representative, Barbara Woodward, echoed these sentiments, condemning the Iranian attack and expressing concern for the safety of neighboring countries such as Jordan and Iraq.
Also Read: ENPO and Tribal Bodies Safeguard Officials, Citizens Abstaining from Voting in Nagaland’s LS Polls
Iran’s envoy to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, defended the attack as an act of self-defense, criticizing the Security Council’s failure to maintain international peace and security in the wake of Israel’s purported strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation:
- Guterres emphasized the precarious situation in the Middle East and stressed the importance of defusing tensions to prevent further conflict and instability in the region.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi asserted that the attack served as a lesson to Israel and warned of a stronger response to any future aggression against Iran’s interests.
US President Joe Biden urged Israel to proceed with caution in its response to Iran’s attack, affirming that the United States would not participate in offensive counter-strikes against Tehran.
This development follows US assistance to Israel in intercepting numerous drones and missiles launched by Iran:
- Israeli authorities reported a successful interception of the majority of inbound weapons, with minimal damage inflicted.
- The Pentagon confirmed US and allied forces’ destruction of over 80 attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles intended for Israel from Iran and Yemen.
