Iran Cautions Israel Against taking "reckless" Revenge

Iran has issued a stern warning to Israel, cautioning against any hasty retaliation to its recent aerial attack. The Iranian government has made it clear that any such action will be met with an even more forceful response.

Israel was targeted by over 300 drones and missiles from Iran overnight, in response to the Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria on 1 April.

Israel and its allies have successfully intercepted 99% of the weapons, according to reports.

This event signifies Iran’s initial direct strike on Israel, as the two nations have been engaged in a covert conflict for an extended period.

World leaders are calling for caution as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.

After the attack, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed determination to emerge victorious, but the specific course of action his country intends to take remains uncertain.

Last week, Israel’s defence and foreign ministers issued a stern warning, emphasising that in the event of an attack on Israel, they would respond with a retaliatory strike within Iran.

There had been expectations of an attack following the incident at the Damascus consulate that resulted in the loss of seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers.

According to a statement reported by AFP, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi warned that any reckless behaviour from the Zionist regime or its supporters would be met with a decisive and stronger response.

The IRGC of Iran, the most influential branch of its armed forces, has claimed responsibility for the recent attack. They stated that the attack was carried out as a response to what they perceive as Israel’s repeated offences, including the assault on the Iranian embassy’s consulate in Damascus.

After the strikes, the Iranian mission to the UN stated that “the matter can be considered resolved.”

The Iranian armed forces chief of staff, Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, informed state TV that the US had received a warning, conveyed through Switzerland, about the potential consequences of supporting an Israeli response. It was made clear that any American support for Israel would result in the targeting of US regional bases.

According to Reuters news agency, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has stated that he conveyed to the US that any attacks against Israel would be “limited” and carried out in self-defense.

US President Joe Biden reached out to Mr Netanyahu in the wake of the Iranian attack, reiterating America’s unwavering dedication to Israel’s security.

He expressed strong disapproval of the attack on Israel, describing it as highly unusual. He also mentioned that the US had provided assistance to Israel and other allies in neutralising the majority of the missiles and drones.

Commotion erupted throughout Israel as sirens blared and powerful blasts reverberated across Jerusalem, prompting the deployment of air defence systems to intercept and neutralise unidentified objects in the city’s airspace.

According to Israeli intelligence sources, The New York Times reported that the focus seemed to be on military installations in the occupied Golan Heights.

According to an Israeli military spokesman, a significant number of munitions were fired, including explosive drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. However, Israel has downplayed the extent of the damage caused.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, reported that a few Iranian missiles struck Israel, resulting in minor damage to a military base. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

According to reports, a young girl from the Bedouin community in the southern Arad region has suffered serious injuries due to shrapnel from falling debris.

World leaders are currently deliberating on how to address the significant increase in tensions between Israel and Iran. Many leaders have expressed their disapproval of the attack and have cautioned against the potential risks of further escalation.

Mr Biden announced his intention to gather “my fellow G7 leaders to collaborate on a unified diplomatic response to Iran’s bold attack.”

The UN Security Council will convene an urgent meeting later, as announced by its president Vanessa Frazier.

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, expressed his strong condemnation of the recent large-scale attack on Israel, emphasising the seriousness of the escalation.

He urged for an immediate end to the hostilities and for all parties involved to show utmost restraint.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticised the strikes as being reckless, while the European Union’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell expressed concern over the impact on regional security.

China’s foreign ministry called for caution, describing it as “a recent extension of the Gaza conflict”, while Russia’s foreign ministry expressed “serious concern about another risky escalation”.

France has advised its citizens in Iran to consider temporarily leaving the country due to concerns about potential military escalation.

Addressing the masses at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis passionately called for an end to any actions that could escalate violence and potentially lead the Middle East into further conflict.

There has been a surge in tensions in the Middle East following the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel. The attacks resulted in a significant loss of life, with approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, losing their lives and over 250 individuals being held hostage.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the Israeli military operation in Gaza has resulted in the unfortunate loss of 33,729 lives, with a majority of them being civilians.

Meanwhile, Israel’s spy agency Mossad reported that Hamas negotiators have turned down the latest proposal presented by mediators in peace talks.

According to a statement, it appears that Hamas’ Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar is not interested in a humanitarian deal or the return of the hostages. The statement also suggests that Sinwar is taking advantage of the tension with Iran.

On Saturday, Hamas reiterated its stance on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, emphasising the need for a lasting ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the repatriation of displaced Palestinians, and the provision of additional humanitarian assistance to the region.