Israel Attack: Iranian Leaders Say Their Retaliation Is Over, Unless Israel Strikes Back

In an unprecedented attack, Iran launched over two hundred missiles and explosive drones targeting Israel late on Saturday. For the first time, Iran on Sunday launched a direct attack on Israeli territory. The attack came as an act of retaliation to Israel's Damascus consulate attack on April 1 that killed Iran's seven elite officers, including generals.

As per reports, Israel activated its Iron Dome air defense system to intercept incoming missiles from Iran. Several US and British warplanes shot down Israel-bound drones over the Iraq-Syria border while Jordan intercepted missiles that violated its airspace.

Stressing that neither the region nor the world can afford another war, the United Nations General Secretary Antonio Gueterres said, “I strongly condemn the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel by Iran.”

Taking cognisance of Iran's unprecedented air attack on Israel, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in its official statement said,"We call for immediate de-escalation....".

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "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", the statement read.

Strongly criticising Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said, "I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. These strikes risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard. The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq. Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed."

In light of the escalating tension following Iran's hige attack on Israel, the UN Security Council is set to convene on Sunday for an emergency meeting. As per reports, Israel requested for the meeting.

In its letter to the UN, Israel accused Iran of violating its international obligations and of being "the architect of instability for years" through its support for Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

Assuring that the United States is standing squarely behind Israel to defend the nation against Iran's attack, White House spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. “President Biden has been clear: Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”

Earlier, assuring Israel of its unwavering support in times of conflict, the United States President Joe Biden sent a stern warning to Iran amid floating threats of attack. His one-word message saying 'Don't' to Iran over its alleged plan to attack Israel had a strong insinuation that the US would help defend Israel.

US President Joe Biden and his national security team monitored Iran's aerial attack against Israel on Saturday as US forces joined efforts to down explosive-laden drones launched by Tehran.

US forces shot down some Iran-launched attack drones flying toward Israel, according to a US defense official and two other US officials cited in an Associated Press report who spoke Saturday on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

President Biden is set to convene the G7 leaders today in a bid to "co-ordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran's brazen attack".

"We will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people," Biden said.

Following reports of interference with the GPS navigation system, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Israel have all temporarily closed their airspace. Flight Radar 24 has posted images showing the current airspace scenario over the region.

Iran on late Sunday launched over two hundred missiles and explosive drones targeting Israel late on Saturday. According to Israel's Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Iran fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Of those, several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base.

While addressing press, Israeli military’s chief spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari on Sunday confirmed that More than 300 projectiles were fired at Israeli overnight from Iran, as well as some from Iraq and Yemen and 99 percent of them were intercepted.

According to local media, Israel has reopened its airspace. Earlier it was closed amid fear of interference with the GPS navigation system.

As per a report by Al Jazeera, Jordanian state television has cited aviation authorities saying that the Jordan reopened its airspace after closing it late last night due to the Iranian launches.

In his first address to the nation since Iran's deadly air attack on Sunday , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the country "will win".

Taking it to X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu posted, “We intercepted. We blocked. Together we will win." Earlier, after Iran's overnight air attack, the prime minister mentioned that the Israeli military was "ready for any scenario."

Strongly despising Iran’s deadly air attack on Israel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “I strongly condemn Iran’s blatant and unjustifiable attack on Israel. And I call on Iran and its proxies to immediately cease these attacks.”

“All actors must now refrain from further escalation and work to restore stability in the region,” she further added

Before the Sunday drone and missile volley, Iran, to this date, had never directly attacked Israel despite decades of enmity dating back to the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian Revolution, also known as the Islamic Revolution, refers to a popular uprising in Iran in 1978–79 that resulted in the toppling of the monarchy on February 11, 1979, and led to the establishment of an Islamic republic. A declaration of the destruction of the Israeli state was a core ideological objective of Iran's revolution.

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As a last development, the chief of staff of Iran's military warned US saying if Washington extends supports in any attack against Iran, then Tehran would target American bases in response. As per reports, Iran seent the message to US via Switzerland.

Earlier, President Biden told Israel's Netanyahu in a phone call that the US would not support any Israeli offensive operations against Iran, according to several US media reports.

Accordding to the Israeli military, France was involved in defending Israel against Iran's overnight attack on Israel.

"France has very good technology, jets, radar - and I know they were contributing in patrolling airspace," Israel's chief military spokesman said.

Besides France, the UK, US and Jordan actively assisted in the defending Israel

During his conversation with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, US president Joe Biden firmly asserted that the US will not support any Israeli counterattack against Iran, as per several media reports.

A day after launching a massive retaliatory air attack on Israel, Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC, has told state media that operation achieved “a level of success that exceeded our expectations”.

“Naturally, people living in occupied lands, Zionist officials and the terrorist and occupying armies of the Zionist regime and the US have a better understanding of the pummeling effects of these attacks at this moment,” he said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has issued a statement hailing the “brave men” of the IRGC who “taught a lesson to the Zionist regime”.

“The punishment of the aggressor which was the true promise of the supreme leader was fulfilled,” the Iranian president said.

He added that the operation was “within the framework of rights for legitimate self-defence” in response to Israel’s aggressive actions.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement expressing the Gulf state’s “deep concern” about the regional developments and called on all parties to halt escalation, promote calm and exercise maximum restraint.

It also urged the international community to take immediate action to defuse tension and de-escalate the situation in the region.

The confrontation between Iran and Israel is "not over yet," Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday.

"The State of Israel was attacked with hundreds of missiles and [unmanned aerial vehicles], and the [Israel Defense Forces] thwarted this attack in an impressive manner," Gallant said, urging Israelis to remain "alert and attentive to the instructions published by the IDF and Homefront Command." The defense minister stressed that Israel "must be prepared for every scenario."

"Together with the United States and additional partners, we managed to defend the territory of the State of Israel," Gallant continued. "Very little damage was caused – this is the result of the IDF’s impressive operations."

Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the ambassadors from the United Kingdom, France and Germany after the countries condemned Tehran for its unprecedented attack against Israel.

The ministry described the three nations’ comments as “irresponsible” and accused them of double standards.

Iran condemned Western members of the UN’s Security Council for failing to denounce Israel’s attack on its consulate in Syria on April 1, which killed seven members of its Revolutionary Guard, including two senior generals.

-Iran's Labour News Agency

The Indian Embassy in Israel has shared contact numbers for emergencies with Indians residing in Israel amidst the crisis.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that British military jets shot down Iranian drones during its attack on Israel.

"I can confirm that our planes did shoot down a number of Iranian attack drones," Sunak told broadcasters.

The prime minister said he stood by the security of Israel and the region, and called for calm heads to prevail.

• NATO’s spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said, “We condemn Iran’s overnight escalation, call for restraint, and are monitoring developments closely. It is vital that the conflict in the Middle East does not spiral out of control."

• German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Israel has showed that it is strong and could defend itself. “Iran is isolated with its aggressive behaviour with which it wants to destabilise an entire region,” she said.

• Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte said: “We strongly condemn Iran’s reckless and dangerous attacks on Israel. Israel’s security must not be further jeopardised and it is very important to prevent regional escalation.”

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s foreign minister, just spoke in a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran. Here is what he said:

We informed the US our attacks on Israel will be “limited” and for self-defence

We don’t seek to expand conflict in the region

We have informed the US we’ll target its bases if Iran is targeted

The security of neighbouring countries is top of Iran’s priorities.

-Inputs From Al Jazeera

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said any “new aggression against the interests of the Iranian nation will be met with a heavier and regrettable response,” according to Iran’s state news channel IRIB.

The country’s foreign minister made similar remarks on a post on X, saying Iran has no intention of “continuing defensive operations, but if necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against any new aggression.”

“Exercising the right of legitimate defence shows Iran's responsible approach to regional and international peace and security,” he added.

France’s embassy in Tehran has issued a statement recommending to the country’s citizens to “temporarily” leave Iran.

“They are asked to exercise the utmost caution in travel” and “to avoid any gatherings”, it added.

As we reported earlier, the Israeli army said France was one of the countries that helped it thwart the Iranian attack, while the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the French ambassador over the “irresponsible” positions in regards to Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had a phone call with Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, diplomatic sources told journalists.

Fidan stated that Ankara did not want any further escalation in the region after Iran's retaliatory attack against Israel on Saturday night.

Amirabdollahian said the operation had ended and Tehran would not launch a new one unless it was attacked again. He added that if Israel attacked again, Tehran's response would be stronger than this time round.

Israel’s war cabinet has begun its meeting. The war cabinet consists of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Benny Gantz, the leader of the National Union party and a former Defence Minister. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and politicians Gadi Eisenkot and Aryeh Deri sit in the war cabinet as observers.

The war cabinet meeting comes as Israel determines its response after Iran launched dozens of missiles from its territory toward Israel.

-CNN

We now have some information about the start of the G7 video meeting that is due to discuss Iran’s attack on Israel.

The meeting will start at 14:00 GMT, according to the office of Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the G7.

The other members in the bloc are Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy Japan and the US.

-Al Jazeera

The Israel war cabinet minister has thanked Germany for its support for Israel during a conversation with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

“We discussed first and foremost the imperative of forming a global united front to counter emboldened Iranian aggression directly and through its proxies – regionally and globally,” Benny Gantz wrote on X.

After a video conference held by G7 leaders, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that group “unanimously condemned” the drone and missile attack, but added that “all parties must exercise restraint”.

“We will continue all our efforts to work towards de-escalation. Ending the crisis in Gaza as soon as possible, notably through an immediate ceasefire, will make a difference,” Michel added.

He also said that the situation in the wider region, including in Lebanon, would be discussed at the European Council next week.