KEY POINTS
- Israel, Iran trade barbs at UN Security Council meeting as tensions mount
- Multiple airlines suspend flights to and from some Middle Eastern nations amid tensions
- It's time to face "empire of evil in Tehran" after attack in Israel: President Isaac Herzog
It's Day 192 of the raging Israel-Hamas war, but most of the world's attention is on Iran and Israel following Saturday's massive aerial attack by Tehran toward Israel in retaliation for the deaths of seven Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) members in the suspected Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy annex in Damascus earlier this month.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reportedly passed intelligence to Washington about Iran's attack toward Israel, helping the U.S. and other Israeli allies plan a defense system that assisted Israel in intercepting majority of Tehran's aerial weaponry barrage.
- UN chief calls for restraint as Israel's western allies express solidarity
- Israeli fighter jets strike 4 Hezbollah posts across southern Lebanon: IDF
- Britain's Sunak to discuss prevention of further escalation with Netanyahu
- US, western officials reportedly expect Israel to counterattack as early as today
- Report on Saudi royal family website seemingly admits Kingdom's role in helping Israel defend itself from Iran's aerial barrage
Forces with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) over the weekend destroyed over 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles launched from Iran and Yemen that were "intended to strike Israel."
Despite the U.S. military's intervention, President Joe Biden has reportedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington will not take part should Israel decide to retaliate against Iran after the weekend drone and missile barrage.
Over in the tension-packed Israel-Lebanon border, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said four soldiers were wounded overnight due to an "explosion of unknown source" amid continuing fire exchange with Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Back in war-torn Gaza, the situation remains "unacceptable," said British foreign secretary David Cameron. He noted that the United Kingdom has had "tough conversations" with Israel over the humanitarian crisis in the near-famine enclave.
Tensions in the Middle East stem from the violent history of the Israel-Palestine conflict that has drawn attacks toward Israel from Hamas allies, including Iran-backed militias such as Hezbollah and Yemeni rebel Houthis.
The live update has ended.
Saudi royal family website seemingly admits Kingdom's role in helping defend Israel
A report on the Saudi Arabia's royal family website has seemingly acknowledged that the Kingdom did play a role in the defensive system established by Israel, the U.S. and their allies to intercept most of Iran's drone and missile attacks.
The report on House of Saud cited a "source from the Saudi royal family" who spoke with Israel's national broadcaster Kan. "Iran is a nation that endorses terrorism, and the world should have curtailed it much earlier," the source was quoted as saying.
Israel's counterattack on Iran may come as early as today: Report
Israel may retaliate against Iran as early as today, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. and other western officials who think Israel may quickly respond to the Saturday barrage of drones and missiles.
British PM to speak with Netanyahu regarding prevention of escalation
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will speak with his Israeli counterpart Monday to discuss how further escalation can be prevented in the region after Iran's direct attacks in Israel, the UK leader said. "All sides must show restraint," he said.
Israeli warplanes attack Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon
Israeli fighter jets struck four paramilitary infrastructures and buildings belonging to Iranian-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon overnight, the IDF said Monday.
מטוסי קרב תקפו במהלך הלילה מטרות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה, ביניהן עמדת שיגור, תשתיות טרור ומבנים צבאיים במרחבים צדיקין, אל מטמורה, לבונה ועייתא א-שעב שבדרום לבנון.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) April 15, 2024
בנוסף, כוחות צה"ל תקפו להסרת איום במרחבים עייתא א-שעב ולבונה שבדרום לבנון pic.twitter.com/bb6tNNtBbS
Time for world to face 'empire of evil in Tehran: Israeli president
Herzog said Sunday night that after Iran's direct attack on Israel, the "free world" should stand up to Tehran. The world should "understand there is an empire of evil in Tehran, which has its proxies laid all over the region and terror cells over the world," he said.
"It's about time that the world faces this empire of evil in Tehran and make it clear to the Iranian regime that this cannot pass by," he said.
This is the truth about Iran.
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) April 14, 2024
Watch my interview with @SkyNews's @AliBunkallSKY>>> pic.twitter.com/H3bWpkDm3X
UAE, Saudi Arabia passed information discreetly to US regarding Iranian attack: Report
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates discreetly gave information to the U.S. regarding Iran's attack on Israel, which helped Washington assist Israel in intercepting Tehran's aerial barrage, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed officials.
The information passed on by the Gulf states reportedly helped the U.S. and its allies come up with an effective defense system that thwarted most of the aerial attacks. Among the countries that Washington rallied to help intercept the drones and missiles were the United Kingdom and Jordan.
The report came as CENTCOM confirmed that it destroyed dozens of drones and missiles launched from Iran and Yemen toward Israel on Saturday and Sunday.
Israel, Iran trade blame for Middle East unrest
Israel and Iran at the United Nations Security Council meeting traded barbs over who is to blame for unrest in the region, with Israel saying Iran is "the number one global sponsor of terror" and has exposed itself as 'the destabilizer of the region and the world."
Iran, on the other hand, noted that it had "no choice" but to respond after the suspected Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy annex in Damascus earlier this month. It also said the Security Council should "address the real threat to international peace and security" which is Israel due to its military offensive in Gaza.
Read the full story here.
Israel's European allies express solidarity
Aside from the U.S. and UK, other western allies of Israel have called on the country to exercise maximum restraint to prevent the situation with Iran to escalate further.
French President Emmanuel Macron joined Washington and London in calling for restraint event as he expressed solidarity with the people of Israel after Tehran's attacks.
I condemn in the strongest terms the unprecedented attack launched by Iran against Israel, which threatens to destabilize the region.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 14, 2024
I express my solidarity with the Israeli people and France's commitment to the security of Israel, our partners, and regional stability.…
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany "stands by Israel" and said Germany "can only warn Iran in particular" to not risk further escalation in the region, as per a Google translation.
Deutschland wird alles dafür tun, dass es im Nahen Osten nicht zu einer weiteren Eskalation kommt. Wir können insbesondere den Iran nur warnen. Es ist gut, dass Israel gemeinsam mit seinen Partnern diesen Angriff weitgehend abgewehrt hat.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) April 14, 2024
The attack on Israeli territory that Iran launched tonight is unjustifiable and highly irresponsible. Iran risks a further escalation in the region. Germany stands by Israel and we will discuss the situation with our allies.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) April 14, 2024
UN chief calls for maximum restraint
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for "maximum restraint," seemingly urging Israel to not take further retaliatory steps after Iran's attacks. "Now is the time to step back from the brink," he said.
The Middle East is on the brink.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 14, 2024
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.
Now is the time to step back from the brink.
UK stands with Israel in Hamas fight but Gaza situation still 'unacceptable': Cameron
The UK's foreign secretary on Sunday said it is Britain's "job to work with the Israeli government to support them in their campaign to get rid of Hamas" and the country understands Israel is adamant about living beside a territory governed by the perpetrators of the Oct. 7 massacre.
However, he said there were "very tough conversations" with Israel regarding the humanitarian situation the Gaza Strip. "I've been extremely tough with them about that, but I think rightly because the situation in Gaza is unacceptable," he said.
Humanitarian aid groups and a prominent food monitor have said that Gaza, particularly its northern region, is nearing famine levels. The UK and other western nations have urged the Israeli government to allow more aid to enter the war-torn enclave.
4 IDF soldiers injured in explosion near Israel-Lebanon border
Four soldiers were wounded, one in serious condition, following an "explosion of unknown origin" near the Israeli-Lebanese border, the IDF said Monday. They have been evacuated for treatment.
Multiple airlines suspend flights due to Israel-Iran tensions
Several airlines have canceled flights to and from some countries in the Middle East due to escalated tensions between Israel and Iran.
German airline Lufthansa has suspended its flights to and from Amman, Erbil and Tel Aviv through Monday, while flights to Tehran and Beirut will be suspended until later this week.
Other airlines that canceled flights in relation to the conflict through Monday were IAG-owned Iberia Express and Wizz Air. The Dutch arm of Air France KLM said all flights to and from Tel Aviv are suspended through Tuesday, while British EasyJet has paused operations to and from Tel Aviv without providing a timeframe for when it will resume operating in the area.
Biden tells Netanyahu US won't participate if Israel retaliates
The U.S. president told Netanyahu during a phone call late Saturday that the U.S. will not join Israel if it decides to retaliate against Iran. Biden reportedly told the Israeli prime minister that Saturday's attack by Tehran should be viewed as a victory since it only displayed Israel's military capacity.
Read the full story here.
US destroys over 80 drones, 6 missiles from Iran and Yemen launched toward Israel
The U.S. military on Saturday and Sunday morning destroyed more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles "intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen," CENTCOM said late Sunday.
"CENTCOM remains postured to support Israel's defense against these dangerous actions by Iran," the U.S. army said.
Defense of Israel Activities Update
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 14, 2024
On April 13 and the morning of April 14, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by U.S. European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six… pic.twitter.com/QYyk01o1Vs
This comes after Tehran launched more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israel Saturday, as per multiple outlets. Iran has vowed to retaliate following the killing of seven IRGC members, including two top generals in a suspected Israeli bombardment of the Iranian consulate annex in Syria's capital earlier this month.
