13-04-2024
05:18
Iran says will not hesitate to take further measures if interests threatened
Photo: AP
“While reaffirming its adherence to the principles and goals of the UN charter and international law, the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes its determination to decisively defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests against any illegal use of force and aggression,” said the ministry.
“If necessary, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to adopt more defensive measures to protect its legitimate interests against any aggressive military actions and illegal use of force,” the statement added.
05:00
UN chief condemns Iran’s attack on Israel
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Photo: AFP
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned Iran’s large-scale attack on Israel on Saturday, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,” said Guterres in a statement.
“I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East,” he added.
The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting over the attack on Sunday.
04:56
UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting Sunday
A meeting of the UN Security Council. Photo: AFP
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday over Iran’s attack on Israel, a spokesperson for Malta, this month’s rotating president of the body, told media.
The meeting, scheduled for 8:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm Baghdad time), comes at the request of Israel.
“Iran has been the architect of instability for years, through Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah, and other proxies. But now it is standing front and center in its actions to fulfill its ambition to attack Israel,” Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, wrote in his letter calling on the Security Council to condemn Tehran.
“The gravity and volume of the attacks are unprecedented, and are a flagrant violation of Israel’s sovereignty, of international law, and of Security Council resolutions,” he said, adding that “Iran poses a direct threat to international peace.”
The Security Council in late March passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli offensive on Gaza for the rest of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, but Israel refused to comply.
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04:30
Israel says intercepted majority of Iranian launches
Intercepted missiles that were fired from Iran towards Israel, as seen over northern Israel. Photo: Jalaa Marey / AFP
“Dozens of surface-to-surface missile launches from Iran were identified approaching Israeli territory. The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted the majority of the launches using the Arrow Aerial Defense System, together with Israel's strategic allies, before the launches crossed into Israeli territory,” said the IDF on X.
“Dozens of IAF fighter jets are currently operating to intercept all aerial threats approaching Israeli territory,” it added.
Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, said that around 200 aerial units were launched towards Israel, adding that dozens of cruise missiles and drones were intercepted outside Israeli borders.
02:45
IRGC says ‘important’ Israeli targets destroyed
IRGC logo
“The terrorist government of America is warned that any support and participation in harming Iran's interests will result in a decisive and regretful response from the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said the IRGC in its second statement since the start of the attack on Israel.
“While emphasizing the policy of good neighborliness with neighbors and countries in the region, it is stated that any threat by the terrorist state of America and the Zionist regime from any country will be followed by a reciprocal and proportional response from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the source of the threat,” the statement added.
02:02
EU condemns Iranian attack on Israel
Photo: AFP
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell early Sunday condemned Iran’s “unacceptable” attack on Israel.
“This is an unprecedented escalation and a grave threat to regional security,” wrote Borrell on X.
Borrell and the EU previously condemned the attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
01:37
‘The matter can be deemed concluded:’ Iran’s mission to UN
Photo: AFP
“Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus. The matter can be deemed concluded,” wrote the mission in a post on X.
“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” it added.
01:05
Iran warns countries against allowing Israeli attacks through airspace, territory
Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani. Photo: IRNA
“Any country that opens its airspace or soil to attack Iran will receive our decisive response,” said the minister.
Mehr news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that the group had launched the first batch of ballistic missiles towards Israel.
00:34
UK PM condemns Iran's attack on Israel
UK Prime Minister. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP
“Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard,” said Sunak in a statement.
“The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq,” he added.
23:27
Iran launches retaliatory attack into Israeli territory
Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza on October 8, 2023.Photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP
“In response to the Zionist regime's crime in attacking the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, the Revolutionary Guards Air Force hit certain targets in the territories of the Zionist regime with dozens of drones and missiles,” said the IRGC in a statement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) earlier announced that Iran had launched multiple drones into Israeli territory.
“A short while ago, Iran launched drones from its territory and from the territory of its agents towards the territory of the State of Israel,” Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, wrote on X.
He said that Israeli forces are currently monitoring the situation and the drones “require several hours to reach Israeli territory.”
Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon announced they were temporarily closing their airspace for all incoming, outgoing, and transitioning aircrafts, citing heightening regional tensions. The Kurdistan Region also temporarily suspended all flights from Erbil and Sulaimani airports.
There were multiple reports on social media of drones spotted in the skies above Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
White House National Security spokesperson Adrienne Watson reiterated Washington's support for Israel and its "defense against these threats from Iran," following the launch of the attack. She said that US President Joe Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team.
Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have repeatedly warned that Israel will be “punished” for an April 1 attack on Tehran’s embassy in Damascus that killed at least seven people, including two IRGC generals. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz took to X on Wednesday, threatening to strike Iran directly if it attacks Israeli territory.
Biden earlier in the day cut his weekend trip to Delaware short and returned to Washington to consult with his national security team regarding the situation in the Middle East amid Iranian threats to strike Israel.
The American president on Friday said that he expects Iran to attack Israel “sooner, rather than later” and warned Tehran against the move as he reiterated Washington’s ironclad commitment to Israel.