The global community is gripped by apprehension as Iran’s formidable response unfolds, marked by the launch of over 300 drones and missiles in retaliation for Israel’s assault on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus on April 1. With tensions escalating to a fever pitch, fears abound that these escalating hostilities could serve as a catalyst for a catastrophic third World War. World leaders, recognising the gravity of the situation, have sounded alarm bells that the fallout from this exchange of fire threatens the already volatile Middle East. IBRAHIM ADAM writes
Iran’s recent assault, comprising a barrage of missiles and drones aimed at Israel over the weekend, comes as a retaliatory response to last week’s suspected Israeli strike on its Consulate in Damascus, Syria, resulting in the loss of 13 lives. The international community has voiced deep concern in the wake of these strikes, with urgent calls for restraint emanating from the United Nations and various nations.
Of notable significance, this marks Iran’s inaugural direct attack on the Israeli state. General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, has declared the operation concluded, asserting its fulfillment of all objectives. However, Iran has issued a stern warning to Israel, indicating the potential for a more significant retaliation should Israel respond. Furthermore, Iran has explicitly stated that any support from the United States toward Israeli military action against Iran could result in the targeting of U.S. bases.
According to Israeli military spokesperson R-Adm Daniel Hagari, an impressive 99 per cent of the barrage aimed at Israel and its allies was intercepted, underscoring the robustness of Israel’s defence systems. Hagari noted that all drones and cruise missiles were successfully neutralised before breaching Israeli airspace, though a few ballistic missiles managed to inflict minor damage on the Nevatim Airbase in the Southern Negev Desert.
Highlighting the human toll, Hagari reported that 12 individuals sustained injuries, including a seven-year-old girl who suffered head injuries from shrapnel. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner of the Israel Defence Forces emphasised the severity of her condition, stating that she was “fighting for her life.”
The timeline of events underscores the prolonged nature of the threat, as drones took several hours to breach Israeli airspace. Just prior to 2:00 a.m. local time (midnight BST), alarms blared across Israel, urging residents to seek refuge as the nation’s formidable air defences sprang into action, illuminating the night sky with detonations. Videos circulated online, capturing the interception of drones near Jerusalem’s revered Al-Aqsa Mosque, offering a glimpse into the tense atmosphere during the attack.
Iran orchestrated a multifaceted assault, deploying drones and missiles from its own territory while also coordinating attacks from Iraqi, Syrian and Yemeni territories. With Iranian forces entrenched in Syria and alliances with militant groups in Iraq and Yemen, the assault showcased Tehran’s extensive reach in the region. Lebanon’s Hezbollah Movement, a formidable proxy force aligned with Iran, joined the fray by launching rockets at Israeli positions in the annexed Golan Heights simultaneously with the Iranian bombardment. Additionally, a second barrage followed hours later, further escalating the volatile situation in the region.
Israel/Hamas war
Before the weekend incident, Israel and the Palestinian group, Hamas have been at war since early October 2023. On the morning of October 7, waves of Hamas gunmen stormed across Gaza’s border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people. Hamas also fired thousands of rockets.
Those killed included children, the elderly and 364 young people at a music festival. Hamas took more than 250 others to Gaza as hostages.
Hamas justified its attack as a response to what it calls Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people.
These include security raids on Islam’s third holiest site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem and Jewish settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
Israel immediately began a massive campaign of air strikes on targets in Gaza, in response to the Hamas attack.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s aims were the destruction of Hamas and the return of the hostages.
Israel launched a ground invasion three weeks later. It has also bombarded Gaza from the sea.
Attacks were initially focused on Northern Gaza, particularly Gaza City and the tunnels beneath it, which Israel said were the centre of military operations by Hamas.
After a temporary truce in late November 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) extended ground operations to Southern Gaza.
Troops reached the heart of the second biggest city, Khan Younis, where the IDF said it believed top Hamas commanders were hiding. The IDF also pushed into refugee camps in Central Gaza.
More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, and tens of thousands injured by Israeli strikes since the start of the war, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. It said most were women and children.
Attack a ‘declaration of war’ says Israel
Israel has described Iran’s unprecedented 350-missile attack as a ‘declaration of war’ and confirmed it has approved plans for ‘offensive and defensive actions.’
The country’s President, Isaac Herzog insisted that Israel did not want a war but suggested they would retaliate after Iran’s airstrike.
He said: “It was about time the world faced this empire of evil in Tehran because its behaviour is unacceptable.
‘”It’s a declaration of war. We are considering all options and I’m quite confident we will take the necessary steps to protect and defend our people,”
Countries that intercepted the drones
Almost all weapons were shot down by Israeli, U.S., and allied forces before they reached their targets.
Israel’s key ally, the U.S., rushed to shoot down incoming fire. Joe Biden said the U.S. had helped to “take down nearly all” of the drones and missiles.
British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets had shot down “a number” of Iranian attack drones. Those drones were intercepted in Syria and Iraq, where the RAF was already operating as part of the Operation Shader Mission against Islamic State.
Jordan’s air defences also intercepted and downed dozens of Iranian weapons that flew over its airspace, security sources told Reuters. The kingdom is highly critical of Israel but has a peace treaty and is a close U.S. ally.
Israeli military spokesperson, R-Adm Daniel Hagari said France was among the countries involved in defending Israel, saying: “France has very good technology, jets, radar and I know they were contributing in patrolling airspace.”
He said that he did not have exact details on whether French jets had shot down any of the missiles launched by Iran.
G7 leaders, countries condemn strike
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel said that the bloc “unanimously condemned” the drone and missile attacks, 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,” Mr Michel said.
Leaders of the G7 also said that they would try to stabilise the situation in the Middle East.
“With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilisation of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided,” a statement issued by the G7 President in Italy.
U.S. President Joe Biden promised “ironclad” support for Israel after meeting with top security officials.
“I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” Mr Biden said on X.
French President, Emmanuel Macron on X said: “I condemn in the strongest terms the unprecedented attack launched by Iran against Israel, which threatens to destabilise the region.
“I express my solidarity with the Israeli people and France’s commitment to the security of Israel, our partners and regional stability,”
Sunak condemned the “reckless” strikes, which he said “risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region. Iran has, once again, demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its backyard.”
The European Union Foreign Affairs Chief, Josep Borrell said the strikes were “an unprecedented escalation and a grave threat to regional security,”
France’s Foreign Minister, Stephane Sejourne on X said that “in deciding to take this unprecedented action, Iran has reached a new level in its acts of destabilisation and is risking a military escalation.”
Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China call for restraint
The Saudi Foreign Ministry has expressed concerns over the “recent military escalations” in the region and their “potential severe repercussions” following Iranian drone and missile attacks directed at Israel.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry on X expressed its concern at the “military escalation” and called on “all parties to exercise utmost restraint and spare the region and its peoples from the dangers of war.
“The ministry reaffirms the Kingdom’s position that stresses the need for the (UN) Security Council to take responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, especially in this highly sensitive region for global peace and security.”
The ministry stressed the importance of “preventing any further exacerbation” of the crisis, warning of “dire consequences” should the situation worsen.
The Nigerian Government also joined other members of the International community to call on Iran and Israel to exercise restraint.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, both countries were advised to consider the global commitment to peaceful conflict resolution for the betterment of global peace and security.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria joins other members of the international community to call on Iran and Israel to exercise restraint, as diplomatic efforts are ongoing to ease tension and avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East.
“In this critical period, it behoves the two countries to reflect on the universal commitment to peaceful resolution of conflicts, for the advancement of global peace and security.”
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry expressed its “deep concern” at the escalation of hostilities and called for “maximum restraint,” warning of the “risk of the regional expansion of the conflict,”
China’s Foreign Ministry also urged restraint, even as it called for the implementation of a recent United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also called for “the utmost restraint” to avoid dangerous repercussions and the region being dragged to new levels of instability.
The Foreign Ministry called for the resolution of “differences through dialogue and diplomatic channels and for adhering to the rule of law and respecting the United Nations Charter.”
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen called on Iran to “immediately cease” attacks.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan told Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian in a phone call that Turkey does not want further escalation of tension in the region.
Amirabdollahian told Fidan that its “retaliatory operation” against Israel had ended, adding that Iran would not launch a new operation unless it was attacked.
‘Iran notified neighbours 72 hours before the attacks’
Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian said Iran notified its neighbours of its retaliatory strikes on Israel 72 hours in advance.
“About 72 hours before our operations, we informed our friends and neighbours in the region that Iran’s response against Israel was certain, legitimate and irrevocable,” Amirabdollahian told a media briefing.
The White House has warned Israel that the U.S. will not participate in any retaliatory strikes on Iran, senior administration officials have said.
Officials said Joe Biden urged Israel to consider its response “carefully,”
A senior administration official said that Biden told Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to “think very carefully and strategically” about how his forces replied to the unprecedented action, the first direct attack by Iran on the country.
During a conversation between Biden and Netanyahu, they discussed “how to slow things down and think through things,” with Biden emphasising that Israel has “gotten the best of it.”
The official declined to say, however, whether the White House warned against a significant response, saying only that “it is a calculation the Israelis have to make.”
In a string of television appearances on U.S. networks, National Security Spokesman, John Kirby repeatedly said that the U.S. had made it clear to Israel that it seeks to avoid a wider conflict.
The senior administration personnel said that the same message has been sent to Iran through diplomatic channels.
The stance has sparked criticism from some U.S. lawmakers and former officials from both sides of the political spectrum.
UN Secretary-General urges parties to avoid war
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres has urged all parties to step back from the brink of a possible all-out conflict.
At the UN Security Council in New York, Guterres said: “The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate. Now is the time for maximum restraint.”
He said that it is vital to avoid “any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”
Guterres reminded member states of their obligations under the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
He reinforced the importance of respecting the inviolability of diplomatic premises and personnel and referred to his condemnation of the recent attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus on April 1.
Israel will exact a price from Iran, says Benny Gantz
A member of Israel’s war cabinet, Benny Gantz said his country will “exact a price from Iran in a way and time that suits us,” after the Iranian drone and missile attack.
He said Iran met the strength of the Israeli security system and Iran’s retaliation would not be the end.
“This event is not over and there was a need to build a regional coalition and extract a price from Iran, in a way and at a time that suits us.”
Gantz added that Israel still needs to bring home its hostages and secure its southern and northern borders so that people who have evacuated their homes near those borders can return.
Israel Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich demanded a response that “resonates throughout the Middle East,” and the National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israel should “go crazy.”
Smotrich, the Head of the far-right Religious Zionism Party said if Israel hesitates “we will put ourselves and our children in existential danger.”
In a video statement, he called this a “moment of truth,” and said: “If our response resonates throughout the Middle East for generations to come, we will win.”
Ben-Gvir, the leader of the far-right Jewish Power Party said Israel’s response must not be weak and “the concepts of containment and proportionality are concepts that passed away on October 7,” the day of the Hamas attack on Israel.
Emirates, Etihad, other UAE airlines cancel flights
UAE airlines are among several cancelling and rerouting flights as tensions between Iran and Israel escalate.
Emirates, Etihad Airways and Flydubai have scrapped some flights and rerouted others after Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq temporarily closed airspace after Iran attacked Israel.
It has also rerouted several European and North American flights to avoid closed airspace in the region.
“This is likely to cause some disruption and delays to several flights over the day,” a representative for the airline told The National.
“Etihad Airways flights only operate through approved airspace. Safety is always our highest priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.”
