Iran has grounded commercial flights in parts of the country following reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, leading to the activation of its air defence systems. Tensions in the Middle East are heightened after Iran's recent missile and drone attack on Israel. The Israeli military has not yet responded. Iranian state TV confirmed the firing of air defences across several provinces but did not provide details on the cause. The incident has not resulted in casualties, and there has been no official response from Iran.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have heightened following an airstrike on Iran's diplomatic compound in Damascus by Israel. Iran has vowed retaliation, prompting an exchange of threats between the two nations. The United States, Israel's ally, has also warned Iran of potential consequences.
Iran launched a large-scale attack with over 300 drones and missiles at Israel, resulting in some damage and injuries. The attack was in response to an airstrike that hit Iran's consulate in Damascus. Tensions remain high in the Middle East as Israel contemplates its response to the escalation, with approved operational plans for both offensive and defensive actions.
Israel is on high alert following an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed several senior Iranian military officers. Iran blames Israel for the attack and has vowed to retaliate. Tensions are rising in the region, with many countries warning their citizens against visiting due to fears of an imminent Iranian attack and potential escalation of the war in Gaza. Iranian leaders have strongly criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza, with Tehran openly supporting attacks on Israelis. Human Rights Watch has verified videos showing Hamas violence, prompting calls for an investigation into war crimes.
Western nations, including the United States and the European Union, are contemplating imposing fresh sanctions on Iran following its recent attack on Israel. The Israel-Gaza war has led to significant displacement and humanitarian crises in the region, with Israel engaging in a ground invasion against Hamas. Despite historical complexities in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, efforts are focused on achieving a permanent cease-fire. Israel is strategizing its response to Iran's missile and drone attacks, with concerns about potential escalation and the impact on Gaza's situation.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will decide how to respond to Iran's unprecedented attack, with the Israeli military vowing to retaliate. World leaders, including Washington and Brussels, are calling for restraint to prevent escalation amidst heightened tensions due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. British and German envoys visited Israel to offer advice, emphasizing the need to avoid further escalation. Meanwhile, Iran showcased its weaponry, including drones and ballistic missiles, at a military parade in Tehran, warning of a severe response to any Israeli aggression.
Iran's Foreign Minister warned Israel of making them regret any attack on Iran in response to Tehran's weekend barrage of missiles and drones, following a deadly attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus blamed on Israel. Tehran's actions were described as 'limited and proportionate' with a vow to respond decisively to any Israeli aggression. Israeli officials have not specified their retaliatory actions yet. The Iranian minister emphasized Iran's legitimate defense and urged Israel to stop military adventurism against their interests.
Israel cancels school trips and youth activities, places armed forces on full alert due to potential Iranian attack. President Biden cuts short weekend trip to discuss Middle East events after predicting Iranian attack against Israel. Tensions escalated after Iran vowed retaliation for Israel's attack in Damascus. Biden meets with national security team in response to ongoing airborne attack from Iran.
Israel's Foreign Minister has warned that Israel would strike Iran directly if the Islamic Republic launched an attack from its territory. Tensions have risen following the killings of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria, with Iran blaming Israel for the attack and vowing retaliation. Iran supports anti-Israeli militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has accused the West, especially the U.S. and Britain, of supporting Israel. Iran's Foreign Minister accused the U.S. of giving Israel the "green light" for the consulate strike.
Israeli sources have stated that Israel postponed its planned ground offensive on the Gaza city of Rafah after Iran's weekend attack, sparking a heated debate in the Israeli war cabinet over the response. The Israeli Air Force intended to drop leaflets on Rafah but paused plans following Iran's projectile attack towards Israel. Israeli officials are considering military and diplomatic responses to Iran, amidst international support but caution against escalation. US President Biden assured non-participation in offensive operations against Iran. Tensions with Iran escalated after Hamas attacks on Israel, prompting discussions on potential responses and de-escalation efforts.
{{User:RMCD bot/subject notice|1=2024 Iranian consulate airstrike in Damascus|2=Talk:2024 Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus#Requested move 2 April 2024}On 1 April 2024, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the Iranian consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, killing 14 people, including a senior Quds Force commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and seven other IRGC officers.The airstrike occurred at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, and amid the formers war with Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran has vowed revenge for the attack.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated, with Iran launching retaliatory airstrikes at Israel and threats to block the Strait of Hormuz. Experts warn of potential energy crisis and supply shocks if conflict escalates, impacting oil prices and global economy. Japan, heavily reliant on Middle East's crude oil, has prepared for up to 137 days of oil shortage. Market concerns rise as Israel plans response to Iran's attacks, leading to spikes in oil prices and increased trading volumes.
The United States and the European Union are considering imposing additional sanctions on Iran following its attack on Israel over the weekend. The US Treasury Secretary and EU foreign policy chief have indicated plans for sanctions. Israel has called on allies to sanction Tehran's missile program, linked to UN sanctions that expired in October. Iran's first-ever direct attack on Israel involved over 300 missiles and drones, allegedly in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on its consulate in Syria. Israel is advocating for sanctions on Iran's missile program and to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
The Israeli army has bombed dozens of targets in Gaza, leading to a humanitarian crisis according to UN Chief Antonio Guterres. Concerns of wider war in the Middle East have risen after Israel's retaliation threats against Iran. The US and Britain have imposed sanctions on Iran's military drone program amidst escalating tensions. Calls for restraint have been made while Iran warns Israel of potential regrets. Despite global focus on Iran tensions, Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, drawing attention to the fragile situation in the region.
Iran launched over 300 projectiles, including cruise missiles and drones, towards Israel, risking a major regional war. Despite the attack, Israel successfully intercepted the missiles with minimal casualties. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential catastrophic consequences if Iran's offensive had been successful, leading to widespread civilian casualties and a significant global conflict.
Israel faces a threat from Iran's illicit nuclear weapons program, with concerns raised about Iran's capability to target Israel with a nuclear weapon. The White House warns of Iran's increasing proximity to nuclear weapon capability compared to the past administration. Iran previously pursued an atomic weapons program named the Amad Plan. Several countries have come to Israel's aid amidst escalating tensions.
GAZA STRIP Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on Gaza overnight, Hamas said on Monday, as the army said it will not be distracted from the fighting after Iran's unprecedented attack heightened fears of a wider conflict. World powers have urged restraint after Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, though the Israeli military said the vast majority were intercepted. Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said the country's military action against Israel was based on Article 51 of the UN Charter regarding the legitimate right to self-defense and in response to the deadly Israeli attack against the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1. "Even while under attack from Iran, we have not lost sight, not for one moment, of our critical mission in Gaza" to rescue hostages, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Sunday. As mediators eye a deal to halt the fighting, triggered by Hamas' Oct 7 attack, fears grew over Israeli plans to send troops into Rafah, a far-southern city where the majority of Gaza's 2.
Iran's recent attack on Israel has escalated tensions in the region, challenging President Biden's efforts to de-escalate the conflict while deterring Iran. The US-Israel relationship, strained over humanitarian aid issues, has seen a shift with successful joint military action. Despite hopes for a restrained Israeli response, the situation signals a worrying change in the region.
An Israeli airstrike in Lebanon targeted and killed Ismail Yusaf Baz, a senior Hezbollah commander responsible for planning missile strikes against Israel. The strike also eliminated Muhammad Hussein Mustafa Shechory and Mahmoud Ibrahim Fadel-Allah, both involved in planning missile strikes towards Israel. Hezbollah retaliated with explosive-laden drones targeting northern Israel, claiming casualties among the Israeli crew. Tensions escalated after Iran retaliated against Israel for an attack in Damascus, with reports of Iranian military advisers killed. Israel's Defence Minister blamed Hezbollah for the damage in Lebanon and vowed to act against any threats.
UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron visits Israel to discuss Iran's recent drone and missile attack, along with other Western foreign ministers. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls for calm and warns against escalation. Israel vows retaliation after intercepting over 300 projectiles. Discussions focus on preventing further escalation in the region, humanitarian aid in Gaza, and potential sanctions on Iran. UK, US, France, and Jordan aided in intercepting the projectiles. Sunak emphasizes support for Israel's security and regional stability.
The Iran–Israel proxy conflict, also known as the Iran–Israel proxy war or Iran–Israel Cold War, is an ongoing proxy conflict between Iran and Israel. In the Israeli–Lebanese conflict, Iran has supported Lebanese Shia militias, most notably Hezbollah. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran has backed Palestinian groups such as Hamas. Israel has supported Iranian rebels, such as the People's Mujahedin of Iran, conducted airstrikes against Iranian allies in Syria and assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists. In 2018 Israeli forces directly attacked Iranian forces in Syria.Motivated by the periphery doctrine, Imperial Iran and Israel had close relations, seeing Arab powers as a common threat. After the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran cut off relations, but covert ties continued during the subsequent Iran–Iraq War. Iran trained and armed Hezbollah during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and continued to back Shia militias throughout the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon. Even before 1979, Iranian Islamists had materially supported the Palestinians; after 1979 Iran attempted relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization, and later with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Israel fought a war with Hezbollah in 2006. Israel has fought several wars with Palestinians in and around the Gaza Strip: in 2008-2009, 2012, 2014, 2021 and 2023-2024. The 1982 Lebanon War and Israel–Hamas war have been the deadliest wars of the Arab–Israeli conflict.Various reasons have been given for the Iran-Israel conflict. Iran and Israel had previously enjoyed warm ties due to common threats, but by 1990s the USSR had dissolved and Iraq had been weakened. Iranian Islamists have long championed the Palestinian people, whom they perceive as "oppressed". Scholars believe that by supporting the Palestinians, Iran seeks greater acceptance among Sunnis and Arabs, both of whom dominate the Middle East. Ideologically, Iran seeks to replace Israel with a one-state solution (though Iran has at times also supported the two-state solution) and has predicted Israel's demise. Israel sees Iran as an existential threat, and accuses its regime of harboring genocidal intentions. Consequently, Israel has sought sanctions and military action against Iran to stop it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The United States orchestrated a successful defense against Iran's mass missile and drone attack through a coordinated regional response involving Israel, Britain, France, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Early warning radar stations in Arab Gulf states detected the attack and aided in alerting Israel and its allies, leading to the near-total destruction of the Iranian assault.
Iran executed four men on Monday after they were convicted of spying for Israel. The defendants were accused of plotting a bomb attack on a military equipment factory in the central city of Isfahan. The quartet had illegally entered Iran from Iraq's northern Kurdish region and were linked to an Israeli intelligence operation allegedly ordered by Mossad. Iran and Israel have a long-standing rivalry and are currently in a dispute over Iran's nuclear program. Amnesty International reports that Iran executes more people per year than any country except China.
President Biden, surrounded by a small group of advisers, watched over 100 Iranian ballistic missiles heading towards Israel in real time, a moment of intense tension as the attack unfolded. The scope of the attack, including the use of ballistic missiles, surprised US officials. Despite anticipating an Iranian strike and preparing to defend Israel to the maximum extent, the potential for uncontrolled escalation was dangerously high. The Israeli ambassador was quickly brought to the White House during the attack, highlighting the close relationship between America and Israel despite disagreements over Gaza.
Reports of explosions in Iran, Iraq, and Syria, along with expectations of Israeli responses to attacks from Iran, have led to stock market declines and increases in oil prices, with Brent crude surpassing $90 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate reaching nearly $86 per barrel The 10-year Treasury yield dropped 10 basis points, while the dollar and other haven assets strengthened Asian equities, including Japan and South Korea, fell more than 2%, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Infosys Ltd faced challenges due to the geopolitical risks and sales growth forecasts
Iran and the United States have had no formal diplomatic relations since 7 April 1980. Instead, Pakistan serves as Iran's protecting power in the United States, while Switzerland serves as the United States' protecting power in Iran. Contacts are carried out through the Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the US Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Tehran. In August 2018, Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei banned direct talks with the United States.Relations between the two nations began in the mid-to-late 19th century, when Iran was known to the west as Persia. Persia was very wary of British and Russian colonial interests during the Great Game. By contrast, the United States was seen as a more trustworthy foreign power, and the Americans Arthur Millspaugh and Morgan Shuster were even appointed treasurers-general by the Shahs of the time. During World War II, Persia was invaded by the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, both US allies, but relations continued to be positive after the war until the later years of the government of Mohammad Mosaddegh, who was overthrown by a coup organized by the Central Intelligence Agency and aided by MI6. This was followed by an era of close alliance between Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's regime and the US government, Persia being one of the US's closest allies, which was in turn followed by a dramatic reversal and disagreement between the two countries after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.Iranian explanations for the animosity with the United States include “the natural and unavoidable conflict between the Islamic system” and “such an oppressive power as the United States, which is trying to establish a global dictatorship and further its own interests by dominating other nations and trampling on their rights”, as well as the United States support for Israel (“the Zionist entity”). In the West, however, different explanations have been considered, including the Iranian government's need for an external bogeyman to furnish a pretext for domestic repression against pro-democratic forces and to bind the government to its loyal constituency. The United States attributes the worsening of relations to the 1979–81 Iran hostage crisis, Iran's repeated human rights abuses since the Islamic Revolution, different restriction by using spy methods on democratic revolution by US, its anti-Western ideology and its nuclear program.Since 1995, the United States has had an embargo on trade with Iran. In 2015, the United States led successful negotiations for a nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) intended to place substantial limits on Iran's nuclear program, including IAEA inspections and limitations on enrichment levels. In 2016, most sanctions on Iran were lifted. The Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions in 2018, initiating what became known as the "maximum pressure campaign" against Iran. In response, Iran gradually reduced its commitments under the nuclear deal and eventually exceeded pre-JCPOA enrichment levels.According to a 2013 BBC World Service poll, 5% of Americans view Iranian influence positively, with 87% expressing a negative view, the most unfavorable perception of Iran in the world. On the other hand, research has shown that most Iranians hold a positive attitude about the American people, though not the US government. According to a 2019 survey by IranPoll, 13% of Iranians have a favorable view of the United States, with 86% expressing an unfavorable view, the most unfavorable perception of the United States in the world. According to a 2018 Pew poll, 39% of Americans say that limiting the power and influence of Iran should be a top foreign policy priority. Relations tend to improve when the two countries have overlapping goals, such as repelling Sunni militants during the Iraq War and the intervention against ISIS.
The Israeli defence ministry is buying 40,000 tents in preparation for an assault on Rafah in Gaza to eliminate remaining Hamas battalions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at invading Rafah, the last city in Gaza not targeted. Plans include evacuating civilians to 'humanitarian islands' in central Gaza before the assault. The US has cautioned against the assault, predicting global isolation for Israel. France's foreign minister suggests pressure and sanctions on Israel for humanitarian aid access to Gaza. International journalists' exclusion from Gaza allows misinformation to spread amidst the conflict.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced Italy's support for targeted new sanctions against Tehran, focusing on the makers of drones involved in recent attacks. The G7 foreign ministers, including representatives from the UK, EU, US, Germany, Japan, Canada, France, and Italy, discussed key issues related to Israel, Iran, and Ukraine during their meeting on Capri island, Italy.
(Bloomberg) -- Israel was downgraded by S&P Global Ratings, which cited heightened geopolitical risks as it lowered the sovereign credit rating to A+ from AA- on Thursday. Most Read from Bloomberg Elon Wants His Money Back Dubai Grinds to Standstill as Flooding Hits City Record Rainfall in Dubai? Blame Climate Change, Not Cloud Seeding Singapore Loses Worlds Best Airport Crown to Qatar Red Lobster Considers Bankruptcy to Deal With Leases and Labor Costs The nation was cut by one notch to the fifth-highest score, on par with Bermuda and China. The outlook remains negative. The recent increase in confrontation with Iran heightens already elevated geopolitical risks for Israel, the companys statement said. S&P said a wider regional conflict was not its baseline scenario, but could have a further material negative impact on Israels security situation.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on Iran and Israel to show "maximum restraint" amid fears that the conflict in the Middle East could expand into a major regional war. "A spiral of escalation would serve no one," Baerbock warned just after arriving on the Italian island of Capri ahead of a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) major industrialized democracies. She said that further escalation endangers the security of Israel, the lives of the dozens of hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militants, civilians in Gaza as well as the "many people in Iran who are themselves suffering under the regime." With regard to the recent Iranian attacks on Israel, Baerbock said that the aim was to prevent "the highly dangerous situation in the Middle East from turning into a regional conflagration." She added: "As the G7, we speak with one voice: All players in the region are called upon to exercise maximum restraint.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude for the UK's support in defending Israel but asserted that Israel will make its own decisions regarding Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Netanyahu mentioned meeting with UK and Germany's foreign ministers amid threats of a retaliatory response from Iran and aftermath of an airstrike on Lebanon. Foreign Secretary David Cameron emphasized the need for a smart and de-escalatory response to Iran's attack, highlighting the importance of averting a larger conflict. The UK foreign secretary also addressed the situation in Gaza, urging global attention and emphasizing Hamas' role in prolonging the conflict.
In todays newsletter: As the crisis in the Middle East shifts resources away from the Russian invasion, Zelenskiy is calling for more money, weapons and attention Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First Edition Good morning. As soon as Iran launched its aerial attack on Israel, western allies coordinated a rapid, united military and diplomatic response. The US, Britain, France and others intercepted more than 300 Iranian drones and missiles. Closer to Europe , however, a country facing significant aerial bombardment from Russia has not been able to rely on a similar level of assistance from its allies. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, has long feared that the crisis in the Middle East centred on Israels war in Gaza would shift focus and, crucially, resources away from Ukraine.
The Israeli army has sent tanks to Beit Hanoun in Gaza, surrounded a school housing displaced people, and forced all families to evacuate amidst heavy bombardment. Israeli forces detained several men, and residents reported an internet outage. This escalation comes after Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in retaliation for a previous Hamas rampage, resulting in casualties and displacements. Efforts for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas led by Qatar and Egypt have not shown progress after six months of fighting.
The Israeli military warned Palestinians not to return to northern Gaza after opening fire and killing five people trying to walk back to their homes following Hamas' attack on southern Israel. Around 300,000 Palestinians in the north are on the brink of famine, amidst flattened areas and restricted aid. Defense Minister Gallant plans an invasion of Rafah, met with objections from the international community and the United States. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million people, with over 33,700 Palestinians killed and 76,200 wounded in bombardments and ground offensives.
Iran has several research sites, two uranium mines, a research reactor, and uranium processing facilities that include three known uranium enrichment plants.Commencing in the 1950s with support from the United States (under the Atoms for Peace program), Iran's nuclear program was initially geared toward peaceful scientific exploration. In 1970, Iran ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), subjecting its nuclear activities to IAEA inspections. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, cooperation ceased and Iran pursued its nuclear program clandestinely.An investigation by the IAEA was launched as declarations by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in 2002 revealed undeclared Iranian nuclear activities. In 2006, Iran's noncompliance with its NPT obligations moved the United Nations Security Council to demand Iran suspend its programs.In 2007, the United States National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) stated Iran halted an alleged active nuclear weapons program in 2003. In November 2011, the IAEA reported credible evidence that Iran had been conducting experiments aimed at designing a nuclear bomb, and that research may have continued on a smaller scale after that time. On 1 May 2018 the IAEA reiterated its 2015 report, saying it had found no credible evidence of nuclear weapons activity after 2009.Operational since September 2011, the Bushehr I reactor marked Iran's entry into nuclear power with Russia's assistance. This became an important milestone for Rosatom to become the largest player in the world nuclear power market. Anticipated to reach full capacity by the end of 2012, Iran had also begun constructing a new 300 MW Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant and expressed plans for additional medium-sized nuclear power plants and uranium mines in the future.Despite the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) aimed at addressing Iran's nuclear concerns, the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 prompted renewed sanctions, impacting diplomatic relations. The IAEA certified Iran's compliance up until 2019, but subsequent breaches strained the agreement. In a 2020 IAEA report, Iran was said to have breached the JCPOA and faced criticism from signatories.In 2021, Iran faced scrutiny regarding its assertion that the nuclear program was exclusively for peaceful purposes, especially with references to growth in satellites, missiles, and nuclear weapons.In April 2022, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran head Mohammad Eslami announced a strategic plan for 10 GWe of nuclear electricity generation.In October 2023, an IAEA report estimated Iran has increased its uranium stockpile twenty-two times over the 2015 agreed JCPOA limit.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing Hamas militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008 and are part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict. They are considered to be the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.The Hamas offensive involved 3,000 militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier and attacking Israeli communities and military bases. During this attack, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, while 253 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive to the Gaza Strip. The attack was proclaimed as a response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the prospect of Arab–Israeli normalization, and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners. In response, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its existing blockade of Gaza and launched one of the most severe bombing campaigns in history, before commencing the ground invasion on 27 October. Israeli forces laid siege to Gaza City on 2 November and moved south to attack Khan Yunis a month later on 3 December; both sieges remain ongoing. Israel's next objective is the capture of Rafah. An estimated 6,000-12,000 militants have been killed during the conflict, and Israel has lost over 200 soldiers during its invasion. A United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian pause passed on 15 November; the seven-day truce took effect at the end of that month.A humanitarian crisis has developed in the Gaza Strip, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and potential famine conditions. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the conflict, including over 12,300 children and 8,400 women. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. In February 2024 576,000 people were "facing catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation", stated The United Nations. More than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops that opened fire when huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.The war has had significant international repercussions. Popular protests that primarily call for a ceasefire have occurred across the world. Israel's actions have been denounced by the Islamic world and much of the Global South; South Africa launched an International Court of Justice case alleging that Israel committed genocide. Israel has however received significant support from its traditional Western allies, especially the United States, which vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire. In response, Iran-backed militias have attacked American military bases in the Middle East, while the Yemeni Houthi movement attacked commercial ships they alleged were linked to Israel, incurring a military response from a number of countries.
The Israeli military confirmed killing three sons and grandchildren of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an air attack on the Shati refugee camp on the first day of Eid al-Fitr. Haniyeh stated that Palestinian leaders will not back down despite these killings and will not change their demands for a ceasefire. He criticized Israel's actions as brutal and emphasized a war of ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza.
Iran, also known as Persia and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Iraq to the west and Turkey to the northwest, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan to the north, Afghanistan to the east, Pakistan to the southeast, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the south. With over 90 million inhabitants in an area of 1.648 million square kilometers (0.64 million square miles), Iran ranks 17th in the world in both geographic size and population. Its capital and largest city is Tehran, with around 16 million people in its metropolitan area; other major urban centres include Mashhad, Isfahan, Karaj, and Shiraz.Iran is one of the world's oldest civilizations, beginning with the Elamites in the fourth millennium BC. It was first unified by the Medes in the seventh century BC and reached its territorial height in the sixth century BC, when Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Empire, one of the largest empires in antiquity. Alexander the Great conquered the empire in the fourth century BC, and it was subsequently divided into several Hellenistic states. An Iranian rebellion established the Parthian Empire in the third century BC, which was succeeded in the third century AD by the Sasanian Empire. Arab Muslims conquered the region in the seventh century AD, leading to its Islamization. Iran became a major centre of Islamic culture and learning, and its culture, language, and customs spread across the Muslim world. A series of native Iranian Muslim dynasties ruled the country until the Seljuk and the Mongol conquests of the 11th to 14th centuries. In the 16th century, the native Safavids re-established a unified Iranian state with Twelver Shia Islam as the official religion. Under Nader Shah in the 18th century, Iran was a leading world power, though by the 19th century, it had lost significant territory through a series of conflicts with the Russian Empire. The early 20th century saw the Persian Constitutional Revolution, the establishment of the Pahlavi dynasty, and efforts at modernization. Attempts to nationalise the country's vast fossil fuel supply led to an Anglo-American coup in 1953. After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the current Islamic republic was founded by Ruhollah Khomeini, who became the country's first supreme leader. Iran is officially governed as an Islamic republic with a presidential system, albeit with ultimate authority vested in a theocratic supreme leader (rahbar), currently Ali Khamenei since Khomeini's death in 1989. The Iranian government is authoritarian and has attracted widespread criticism for its significant constraints and violations of human rights and civil liberties.Iran is a major regional and middle power, due to its large reserves of fossil fuels—including the second largest natural gas supply and third largest proven oil reserves—strategic location in the Asian continent, and role as the focal point Shia Islam within the Middle East. It is a founding member of the United Nations, the ECO, the OIC, the OPEC, the SCO, and a member of BRICS. Owing to its long history and rich cultural legacy, Iran has 27 UNESCO World Heritage Sites—the 10th highest number in the world—and ranks fifth globally in the number inscriptions of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The people of Iran are multicultural and comprise wide variety of ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups.
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. Active hostilities began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for eight years, until the acceptance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 598 by both sides. Iraq's primary rationale for the attack against Iran cited the need to prevent Ruhollah Khomeini—who had spearheaded the Iranian Revolution in 1979—from exporting the new Iranian ideology to Iraq. There were also fears among the Iraqi leadership of Saddam Hussein that Iran, a theocratic state with a population predominantly composed of Shia Muslims, would exploit sectarian tensions in Iraq by rallying Iraq's Shia majority against the Baʽathist government, which was officially secular and dominated by Sunni Muslims. Iraq also wished to replace Iran as the power player in the Persian Gulf, which was not seen as an achievable objective prior to the Islamic Revolution because of Pahlavi Iran's economic and military superiority as well as its close relationships with the United States and Israel.The Iran–Iraq War followed a long-running history of territorial border disputes between the two states, as a result of which Iraq planned to retake the eastern bank of the Shatt al-Arab that it had ceded to Iran in the 1975 Algiers Agreement. Iraqi support for Arab separatists in Iran increased following the outbreak of hostilities; Saddam disputedly may have wished to annex Iran's Arab-majority Khuzestan province. While the Iraqi leadership had hoped to take advantage of Iran's post-revolutionary chaos and expected a decisive victory in the face of a severely weakened Iran, the Iraqi military only made progress for three months, and by December 1980, the Iraqi invasion had stalled. The Iranian military began to gain momentum against the Iraqis and regained all lost territory by June 1982. After pushing Iraqi forces back to the pre-war border lines, Iran rejected United Nations Security Council Resolution 514 and launched an invasion of Iraq. The subsequent Iranian offensive within Iraqi territory lasted for five years, with Iraq taking back the initiative in mid-1988 and subsequently launching a series of major counter-offensives that ultimately led to the conclusion of the war in a stalemate.The eight years of war-exhaustion, economic devastation, decreased morale, military stalemate, inaction by the international community towards the use of weapons of mass destruction by Iraqi forces on Iranian soldiers and civilians, as well as increasing Iran–United States military tensions all culminated in Iran's acceptance of a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations Security Council. In total, around 500,000 people were killed during the Iran–Iraq War, with Iran bearing the larger share of the casualties, excluding the tens of thousands of civilians killed in the concurrent Anfal campaign that targeted Iraqi Kurdistan. The end of the conflict resulted in neither reparations nor border changes, and the combined financial losses suffered by both combatants is believed to have exceeded US$1 trillion. There were a number of proxy forces operating for both countries: Iraq and the pro-Iraqi Arab separatist militias in Iran were most notably supported by the National Council of Resistance of Iran; whereas Iran re-established an alliance with the Iraqi Kurds, being primarily supported by the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. During the conflict, Iraq received an abundance of financial, political, and logistical aid from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, and the overwhelming majority of Arab countries. While Iran was comparatively isolated to a large degree, it received a significant amount of aid from Syria, Libya, China, North Korea, Israel, Pakistan, and South Yemen.The conflict has been compared to World War I in terms of the tactics used by both sides, including large-scale trench warfare with barbed wire stretched across fortified defensive lines, manned machine-gun posts, bayonet charges, Iranian human wave attacks, Iraq's extensive use of chemical weapons, and deliberate attacks on civilian targets. The discourses on martyrdom formulated in the Iranian Shia Islamic context led to the widespread usage of human wave attacks and thus had a lasting impact on the dynamics of the conflict.
Group of Seven foreign ministers are gathering in Capri, Italy, to address escalating tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged Israel to exercise restraint after an attack from Iran, emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation and combat the situation with diplomacy and sanctions.
Yael Factor TEL AVIV The Israeli War Cabinet will meet today at 7 a.m. ET, an Israeli official told NBC News. It comes after an Israeli official told NBC News following an hourslong meeting of the War Cabinet last night that the country would respond to the retaliatory strikes but that the scope and timing of that response had not yet been decided. The official said that among the considerations were whether Israel needed to retaliate immediately or could afford to wait, and what impact any escalation against Iran would have on Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip.
Isfahan Shahid Beheshti International Airport (IATA: IFN, ICAO: OIFM) (Persian: فرودگاه بینالمللی شهید بهشتی اصفهان) is an international airport serving the city of Isfahan, Iran.
The European Unions top diplomat is urging the Group of Seven to take quick and concrete steps to provide more air defense systems to Ukraine CAPRI, Italy -- The European Unions top diplomat urged Group of Seven foreign ministers on Thursday to take quick, concrete steps to provide more air defense systems to Ukraine , warning that continued delays could tilt the war in Moscows favor. Without more Patriot air defense missile systems to guard against incoming Russian strikes, the electricity system of Ukraine will be destroyed. And no country can fight without having electricity at home, in the factories, in the front line, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned. He was speaking on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on the Italian resort island of Capri, where Russias war in Ukraine and surging tensions in the Middle East over Irans unprecedented attack on Israel were topping the agenda. U.
At least 13 Palestinians, including children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a gathering in the northern Gaza Strip. The airstrike also led to multiple injuries, with a residential area demolished in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The Israeli army intensified bombardment on Gaza following a military operation announcement, amidst ongoing conflict with Hamas. Graphic videos show the aftermath at Al-Maghazi refugee camp, with scenes of chaos, casualties, and families mourning their loved ones
The Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza sparked surprise globally, with only one brigade left in the enclave, coinciding with the six-month mark since the conflict sparked by Hamas. Officials downplayed the significance, emphasizing the IDF's capability for necessary actions. The timing raised speculation, perceived differently by Israeli media; with Israel Hayom linking it to ceasefire talks pressure, while Maariv suggested it as preparation for a future operation in Rafah.
Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced a re-evaluation of Qatar's role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas due to perceived exploitation and abuse of its position. Talks aimed at securing a truce in Gaza and the release of hostages have stalled. Qatar, hosting Hamas since 2012, faces criticism from Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The EU is moving closer to calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, struggling with the language of the declaration.
https://www.facebook.com/TheSunWorldNews/
CBS News
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/reged-ahmad
NY Post
ABC News
Yahoo! News
Yahoo! News
The Huffington Post
Will Potter
NDTV
AP News
NPR
Fox News
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
Hamdi Alkhshali, Artemis Moshtaghian, Alex Marquardt
Al Jazeera
Sky News
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA