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.
