Pinned
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss Iran’s attack on Israel. The meeting ended without any action by the council.
“Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said. “Now is the time for maximum restraint.”
Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the council: “Last night, the world witnessed an unprecedented escalation that serves as the clearest proof for what happens when warnings aren’t heeded. Israel is not the boy who cried wolf.”
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden and his team are scrambling to ease tensions and prevent further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East following Iran’s unprecedented assault on Israeli territory over the weekend.
Iran on April 13 launched hundreds of air threats toward Israel, saying it was revenge for what Iran claims was an Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria in early April. The attack marks the first time that Tehran has launched a direct military assault on Israel.
Israel, with the support of the United States, the UK, France, and other partners, successfully intercepted 99 percent of the projectiles fired by Iran. There has been almost no damage to Israel’s infrastructure, as confirmed by both U.S. and Israeli officials.
The Israeli military has activated two brigades of reserve troops for “operational activities” in Gaza.
In a post to X, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said the recruitment of these forces “will allow the continuation of the effort and readiness to defend the State of Israel and maintain the security of the residents,” per a translation of the original post.
The announcement comes ahead of an expected invasion of Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip that Israel says is the last major stronghold still controlled by Hamas.
White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby on Sunday called on China to “do more” to help de-escalate tensions in the Middle East after Iran’s April 13 drone and missile strike.
“Look, I won’t dispute the fact that China can do more, China should do more in the Middle East,” Mr. Kirby said when asked about U.S. efforts to cajole China into helping with de-escalation given China’s close relationship with Tehran.
“We’ve asked them to use that influence to a positive effect,” he added, acknowledging that China has not followed through on U.S. requests to that end.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that Iran’s Saturday strike on Israel was tantamount to “a declaration of war” by the Persian state, but insisted that Israel is still “seeking peace.”
Mr. Herzog delivered the remarks during an interview with Sky News.
“We were attacked last night from four corners of the Middle East with proxies shooting at us, firing ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles," Mr. Herzog said. "This is like a real war. I mean, this is a declaration of war.”
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it launched 300 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday from Iran and the locations of its regional proxies, in an attack that could lead to a major escalation between the regional archenemies.
Israel, the U.S. and allied forces intercepted 99 percent of the projectiles fired by Iran, Israel said.
The attack marks the first time that Iran has ever launched a direct military assault on Israel. Iran said the attack was in response to a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria in early April.
The United States will not participate in a counter-strike against Iran should Israel choose to retaliate for an attack on its territory last night, according to the White House.
“We’re committed to defending Israel. We would not be a part of any response they do. That’s a very consistent [U.S.] policy,” the senior administration official told reporters during a call on Sunday.
Comments came after some media reports stated earlier that President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would not support retaliatory action against Iran during a phone call on Saturday.
Leaders of the G7, after a virtual meeting, issued a statement expressing support for Israel and condemning Iran’s April 13 drone attack.
“We, the Leaders of the G7, unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel,” the group said. “We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security.”
The group of international leaders accused Iran of “further stepp[ing] toward the destabilization of the region and risk[ing] provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation."
Iran on Sunday warned Israel and the United States that it would carry out a larger attack if either country retaliates against Tehran’s overnight missile and drone attack, saying that U.S. military bases could be in its crosshairs.
Iran launched explosive drones and shot missiles at Israel late on Saturday in what has been described as its first direct attack on Israel. The Islamic regime has said that the attack was warranted after Israel’s bombing a Syrian compound in early April that left seven members of its Revolutionary Guard Corps dead.
Lawmakers are divided on the proper response to Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend.
Some, like Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are calling for a strong and swift response to the drone strikes, which Iran said were carried out in retaliation for a suspected Israel strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria in early April.
“If we turn the other cheek to them, we’re going to get it in the neck,” Mr. Kennedy said during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the House will “try again” to pass a funding package for Israel this week following Iran’s attack on the Middle Eastern nation.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” the speaker was asked if the attack, which Iran said was in retaliation for an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria, would change the House’s plans for funding Israel.
“We’ve understood the urgency of this from the very beginning,” Mr. Johnson said, noting that only days after he became speaker, the House passed a $14 billion aid package for Israel that would have been paid for by slashing the budget of the IRS.
Former President Donald Trump attributed Iran’s recent decision to attack Israel to weakness shown by the Biden administration, and vowed to revive American strength abroad once he is reelected to the White House.
“But we will return the world to peace through strength and it will happen very quickly. We will revive American strength abroad, and we will restore American strength at home. We were respected four years ago all over the world. Today, we are considered a joke. It’s not going to be for long, believe me. It’s not going to be for long.”
White House adviser John Kirby said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “very grateful” for United States military support after Iran attacked Israel last night.
President Joe Biden and Mr. Netanyahu held a phone call last night over the attack, which Iran has said was in retaliation for a suspected Israel strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria in early April.
During that call, coming near the end of the attack, President Biden reportedly “congratulate[d] Prime Minister Netanyahu for an incredible military achievement.”
Israel announced at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning that it has reopened its airspace after its airport authority closed all airports due to Iran's attack overnight.
Iraq and Jordan, which saw Iranian drones flying through their airspace toward Israel, were also forced to close their airspaces late on Saturday. Both reopened on Sunday morning. Lebanon also said it had reopened its airspace.
All airlines either cancelled or suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv on Saturday night until further notice.
In comments to Iranian state TV, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami warned that any future attacks by Israel against Iranians—officials or civilian—will face the same response by the IRGC, with the attacks overnight marking a "new chapter" in Iran's fight against Israel.
His comments were echoed by IRGC chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri, who told state TV, "Our response will be much larger than tonight's military action if Israel retaliates against Iran."
He added that Washington had been warned that any U.S. actions responding to Iran's attack would result in U.S. bases being targeted.
IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in an update early Sunday morning that "99 percent of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted" overnight in joint defense efforts by Israel and its allies—"a very significant strategic achievement."
Mr. Hagari said that Iran launched over 300 different threats of various types toward Israel on Saturday night; 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles, and over 120 ballistic missiles. Only ballistic missiles were among the threats that crossed into Israeli territory, the IDF said.
Nevatim Air Force Base suffered "minor damage to infrastructure" and remains operational.
Following reports on anonymous comments allegedly made to NBC late Saturday night, the Pentagon released another statement addressing Iran's attack on Israel.
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in the statement that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had spoken with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for "a second time today to reiterate ironclad U.S. support for Israel's defense in light of Iran's unprecedented attack from Iranian territory."
Hours earlier, U.S. media NBC published unverifiable reports from anonymous sources on the content of private talks as described to the outlets by "top U.S. officials."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement early Sunday morning that while the United States does not seek escalation, it will continue to support Israel's defense.
"The United States condemns Iran’s attack on Israel in the strongest terms. While we do not seek escalation, we will continue to support Israel’s defense, and as the President made clear, we will defend U.S. personnel," he said.
He said that in the hours and days ahead, he will be consulting with allies and partners in the region and around the world regarding a response to Iran's attack.
Mossad said in a statement early Sunday morning that Hamas has rejected its humanitarian deal for a temporary ceasefire in return for its release of Israeli hostages.
In a statement on behalf on Mossad, the prime minister's office that Hamas's Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwa, is "continuing to exploit the tensions with Iran" after the hostage release and ceasefire talks in Cairo failed to produce a compromise.
"It has been over a week since the Cairo meeting—Hamas has rejected the outline that was tabled by the mediators," the statement read. "The rejection of the proposal by the three mediators, which included the most significant flexibility on Israel's part, proves that Sinwar does not want a humanitarian deal and the return of the hostages, is continuing to exploit the tension with Iran, and is striving to unite the sectors and achieve a general escalation in the region.
President Joe Biden released another statement late Saturday before midnight.
"Earlier today, Iran—and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria, and Iraq—launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms.
"At my direction, to support the defense of Israel, the U.S. military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week. Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles," he said.
Following requests from Israel's ambassador, an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council has been scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, according to a schedule released late on Saturday.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Iran for its attack, saying he was "deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation."
President of the U.N. General Assembly Dennis Francis said the attack by the Islamic Republic of Iran on Israel "compounds the already tense and delicate peace and security situation in the Middle East."
Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York said in a series of statements posted on X on Saturday night ET, which was early Sunday morning in Israel, that its retaliatory attack on Israel has concluded.
"The matter can be deemed concluded," it said.
It went on to threaten more severe responses going forward should Israel "make another mistake," while telling Israel's ally, the United States, to stay away.
Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan has demanded the United Nations condemn Iran over its assault on Israel tonight and designate the IRGC a terrorist organization.
“Iran has violated the U.N. charter and has shown that it is a threat to global peace and security. Where is your voice?? Where is your condemnation?? Wake up!!!” Mr. Erdan said on X.
In a letter on Saturday to the president of the U.N. Security Council, Mr. Erdan requested an emergency meeting. A tentative meeting is being discussed for 4 p.m. ET, a diplomat told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In an update, Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that while Iran's large-scale coordinated attacks were still occurring, "we have intercepted the vast majority of incoming missiles by Israeli systems."
"So far, we have intercepted and are continuing to intercept dozens of attack drones, as well as cruise missiles and ballistic missiles outside of Israel's border," he said, referring to Israel's long-range Arrow Aerial Defense System. A number of Iranian missiles fell inside Israeli territory, causing minor damage to a military base with no casualties. Only one little girl has been hurt and we hope she will be well."
The 7-year-old was seriously wounded by shrapnel falling after Israel's air defenses intercepted an invading Iranian projectile.
President Joe Biden said he met his national security team about Iran's attacks against Israel.
"Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad," he wrote in a social media post.
Former President Donald Trump from a campaign rally in Pennsylvania said, "I want to say God Bless the people of Israel. They’re under attack right now. America supports Israel and we send our support to everyone in harm's way.
Iran on Saturday afternoon launched dozens of drones from its own territory toward Israel, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed.
“A short while ago, Iran launched unmanned aerial vehicles from its territory towards the territory of the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
“The air defense array is on high alert at the same time as the Air Force planes and Navy ships that are on a mission to protect the country’s skies,” it added. “The IDF is monitoring all targets.”