- By Mayukh Debnath
- Sun, 14 Apr 2024 05:04 PM (IST)
- Source:Reuters
Israel-Iran Tensions: Hours after launching a largely unsuccessful mass drone and missile attack on Israel, Iran on Sunday said that it considers the matter "concluded", referring to the tensions triggered by an alleged Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consular building in Syria's Damascus earlier this month. However, Israel appeared reluctant to budge after the Iranian strike, saying that "the campaign is not over yet". The ramifications of a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran, two arch enemies, could prove costly for the Middle East and more so with the possible involvement of the US therein.
According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the unprecedented Iranian attack could only result in modest damage as most of the incoming projectiles were shot down by its missile defence systems with the help of allies including the US, Britain and Jordan. On the other hand, Tehran warned Washington of attacks on US military interests if it supports Israel in any retaliatory attack on Iran.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said America did not seek conflict with Iran but would not hesitate to act to protect US forces and support the defence of Israel. The latest escalation of the wider conflict between Israel and Iranian proxies in the Middle East comes amidst the war in Gaza, which Israel invaded after an attack by Iran-backed Hamas on October 7.
Iran-Israel Tensions Top Developments
- An IDF spokesperson said around 99 percent of the more than 300 projectiles launched by Iran were intercepted. Iranian forces fired 170 drones, over 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari claimed. Several ballistic missiles managed to evade Israeli air defences, causing minor damage to an air base, Associated Press reported.
- Following Israel's thwarting of an incoming barrage of Iranian projectiles, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on social media: "We intercepted, we repelled, together we shall win."
- Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said despite thwarting the attack, the military campaign was not over and "we must be prepared for every scenario".
- Israel's Channel 12 TV cited an unnamed Israeli official overnight as saying there would be a "significant response" to the attack as Netanyahu met his war cabinet.
- Biden said he would convene a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations on Sunday to discuss a diplomatic response to "Iran's brazen attack".
- The UN Security Council was set to meet at 4 pm ET (2000 GMT) on Sunday following Israel's request to condemn the Iranian strike and designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
- The Revolutionary Guards, a paramilitary branch of the Iranian armed forces, received praise from Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi for launching the aerial attack. Raisi said the attack taught a lesson to the "Zionist regime".
- India expressed concerns over the latest developments in West Asia, with the Ministry of External Affairs saying, "We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region. We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy."
(With inputs from Reuters)
