Iran attacks Israel, raising international concerns about wider conflict

[New Sancai Compilation First] Iran’s top commander warned Israel on April 14 that the country would face larger attacks if Israel retaliated against Iran’s nighttime drone and missile attacks the day before, adding that Washington has been told not to support any military action by its allies.

"If Israel retaliates against Iran, our response will be much greater than tonight's military operation," Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, told state television. He added that Tehran had warned Washington that any retaliation against Israel would Operation support would result in U.S. bases being targeted.

Israel reported minor damage and reopened its airspace after Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israeli territory, while the United States said it would discuss a diplomatic response with major powers on Sunday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel would prevail after the military said it had shot down almost all of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran in a dramatic escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

On April 1, Tehran launched a suspected air strike on the compound of the Tehran embassy in Damascus, killing an elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard officer. Tehran launched the attack on Saturday night, raising the threat of wider regional conflict.

Iran has relied on its proxies in the region to attack Israeli and U.S. targets to show support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel's war with Gaza, which has failed to show despite multiple mediation efforts. Signs of easing.

Netanyahu posted on X: "We intercept, we repel, and together we will win."

The Israeli military stated that its armed forces have shot down more than 99% of Iranian drones and missiles and are discussing follow-up plans.

Israel invaded Gaza on October 7, 2023, following an attack by Iran-backed Hamas, a war that has heightened tensions in the region, spreading to front lines in Lebanon and Syria and launching long-range attacks against targets as far away as Israel Fire attack.

Iran's most powerful ally in the region, Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah - which has been at war with Israel since the Gaza war began - said earlier on Sunday it had fired rockets at an Israeli base.

British maritime security company Ambre said in a statement that Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have also reportedly launched drones at Israel, with the group attacking shipping lanes in and around the Red Sea in a show of solidarity with Hamas. Unity.

These conflicts now risk turning into direct open conflict between Iran and its regional allies and Israel and its main backer, the United States. Regional power Egypt urged "maximum restraint".

Israel's chief military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari, called Iran's actions "very serious" and said in a televised briefing that they were "contributing to escalation in the region."

Hagari said Iran fired dozens of surface-to-surface missiles at Israel, including more than a dozen cruise missiles, most of which were intercepted outside Israel. He said the Iranian salvo caused minor damage to an Israeli military installation.

Iran has vowed to retaliate for what it calls an Israeli attack on its embassy compound that killed seven Revolutionary Guard officers, including two senior commanders. Tehran said the attack was punishment for "Israeli's crimes". Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the consulate attack.

Iran's mission to the United Nations said that "if the Israeli regime makes another mistake, Iran's response will be even harsher" and warned the United States to "stay away". However, it also said Iran now "considers the matter to be over".

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would convene a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven major economies on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response to what he said was a brazen attack by Iran.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States does not seek conflict with Iran but will not hesitate to take action to protect U.S. troops and support Israel's defense.

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday after Israel asked the U.N. Security Council to condemn the Iranian attack and designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.

Iran's Fars News Agency quoted sources as saying that Tehran is paying close attention to Jordan and that if Jordan makes any move to support Israel, Jordan may become the next target.

Israel and Lebanon said they would close their airspace on Saturday night. Israel reopened its airspace at 0430 GMT on Sunday, the Israel Airports Authority said. Two regional security sources said Jordan, which sits between Iran and Israel, was ready with air defenses to intercept any drones or missiles that violated its territory.

The European Union, Britain, Japan, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Mexico, the Netherlands and Norway condemned the Iranian attack.

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)