War breaking news. Netanyahu, Iran will have to 'wait nervously' for response to their attack. Tehran's air defence on high alert

"Russia will not stop at Ukraine and the impact on NATO will be significant," Joe Biden said as he received Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in the Oval Office. The president reiterated that Congress 'must approve funding for Ukraine and must do so now'.

Il presidente Usa Joe Biden con il primo ministro della Repubblica Ceca Petr Fiala nello Studio Ovale della Casa Bianca (Epa)

The Israeli army announces that Israeli fighter planes attacked a military building housing Hezbollah personnel in the Meiss Ej Jabal area in southern Lebanon. Another military facility was attacked in the Tayr Harfa area. Haaretz reports this.

Iran will have to wait 'nervously without knowing when the attack might come, just as it made Israel do the same'. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said this at a meeting of Likud ministers. Then he added - according to the same sources - 'Israel will respond to Iran's attack but will do so wisely and not from the gut'.

The Israeli army renewed its warning to Palestinians not to return to northern Gaza. A day earlier, witnesses and medical officials said Israeli troops opened fire and killed five people among crowds of displaced residents trying to walk back to their homes in the devastated area. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were driven out of the north by the Israeli offensive soon after the 7 October Hamas attack on southern Israel. Although much of the north has been razed to the ground, many say they want to return, fed up with the conditions of displacement. Israel says it is still fighting the remnants of the Hamas militant group in the north.

Poland plans to join the European Sky Shield Initiative (Essi), a project to develop a European air defence system aimed at deterring potential drone and missile attacks. This was said by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference with his Danish colleague Mette Frederiksen in Warsaw as reported by Bloomberg website. Tusk said Iran's attack confirmed how important it is to have a system similar to Israel's Iron Dome air defence system. "There is no reason why Europe should not develop its own shield against missiles and drones," the Polish prime minister said. "It doesn't take much imagination to realise that we too could be in the danger zone." Tusk revealed that Denmark supported his plans to join the Essi, which currently includes 21 countries, Bloomberg recalls. The Polish leader also urged accelerated preparation for investment in air defence, as Iran's own drones are being used by Russia to attack Ukraine. "Iran and Russia act as allies," Tusk told reporters. "The same Iranian drones that attack Ukrainian suburbs have been used to attack Israel."

At the European Council on Wednesday there will be no OK on the instrument for the use of extraordinary revenues from Russia's immovable assets for the benefit of Ukraine. The last draft of the conclusions had a reference to the issue but the EU ambassadors, meeting in Coreper today, could not agree. The Belgian presidency of the EU Council worked tirelessly on this issue and arrived, in record time, at a revised text that addresses all concerns related to the legal framework and the importance of ensuring financial stability.

'We are clearly very close to an agreement. There are still some technical and procedural issues that should be resolved in the next few days and the presidency is fully committed to this,' reports a source from the Belgian presidency, who adds: 'Great progress has been made, but some extra work is still needed and we will come back to Coreper as soon as possible'.

"The president does not want there to be an escalation of the Middle East conflict and I am confident that Netanyahu, with whom he has spoken several times, is aware of his concerns," White House spokesman John Kirby said.

Iran's air defences have been placed on high alert in anticipation of a possible Israeli attack that could be 'imminent'. This was reported by some Iranian media relayed on X by analysts and observers.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the gunwoman from the western Rust, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for involuntary manslaughter for the death of Halyna Hutchins, the director of photography for the film starring Alec Baldwin. That was the judge's decision. The gunman will have to serve the sentence in a New Mexico prison. Baldwin, who was holding the gun from which the fatal shot was fired, has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter: the trial against him will begin in July.

"We demand that Iran and affiliated groups cease their attacks. We are ready to take further measures in response to any new destabilising initiatives". This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in hearings at the joint foreign committees. "We hope that, on the strength of the military victory, Israel will let common sense prevail by desisting from further reactions that could trigger a spiral of violence harmful to all," the deputy prime minister asked on the other hand.

Il ministro degli Esteri Antonio Tajani ANSA/VINCENZO LIVIERI

"The Israeli government will decide for itself whether there will be a response" to the Iranian attack "and what that response will be." This was said by US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, emphasising that the US "is not involved in the eventual response" by Israel.

The unprecedented military action by Iran against Israel increases the risk of a major escalation of the conflict and this picture tests the limits of the underlying assumptions supporting the agency's sovereign ratings in the area. This is emphasised by S&P on the situation in the Middle East in light of Tehran's drone and missile attack on Israel. Although last weekend's events signal a significant increase in geopolitical risk, the central thesis of S&P's baseline scenario remains largely unchanged: i.e., the rating agency continues to predict that the war between Israel and Hamas will continue into 2024 and that Gaza will remain its epicentre, with continued pressure on Israel (rated AA- long-term, outlook negative and A-1+ short-term) from Iran (unrated) and its proxies.

According to S&P, the intense diplomatic efforts and the limited nature of Iran's operations will prevent the immediate crisis from escalating into a full-scale regional conflict. However, the situation, the agency explains, will depend on the nature and scale of the Israeli response in the coming days: a large-scale conflict between states would be economically, socially and politically destabilising for the entire region and its financial markets.

Iran's attack on Israel was a 'spectacular' failure, White House spokesman John Kirby said. The White House reiterates that there was no advance warning from Iran about the timing and objectives of the attack on Israel. "This is a ridiculous narrative," said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

Israel will respond to Iran's attack. This was said by army chief of staff Herzi Halevi speaking at the Nevatim air force base, one of the targets of Tehran's drones and missiles on Saturday. "The launch of so many drones and missiles into Israeli territory," he said, "will have its response.

The United Arab Emirates did not participate in the interception of the missiles and drones that Iran launched simultaneously against Israel on Saturday. This was reported by an Israeli official to the Times of Israel. The same news was confirmed to Adnkronos by Emirati sources, according to whom Abu Dhabi has no desire to enter into conflict with the Iranians. According to the Israeli source, reports of broad Arab participation in the defence of the Jewish state are exaggerated.

Two mass graves were discovered by the Gaza Ministry of Health and the Civil Defence Forces in the north of the Gaza Strip. The first mass grave was discovered at the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City and the second was found in Beit Lahiya. Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul said that nine bodies were found at the al-Shifa hospital that were not fully decomposed, a sign that they had been killed recently. It appears that some of those killed and buried were patients of the hospital and wore medical bandages and catheters attached to their bodies.

In Beit Lahiya, in the north of the Gaza Strip, another mass grave was discovered containing around 20 decomposed bodies.

Residents claimed that the bodies belong to the Al-Assaf family and that they were killed during an incursion by Israeli military forces into the area four months ago.

"The European Council strongly and unequivocally condemns Iran's attack on Israel and renews its full solidarity with the Israeli people and its commitment to Israel's security". This was stated in the draft conclusions of the 17-18 April leaders' summit. An entire chapter on the Middle East was added to the document. The leaders, calling on the parties to 'exercise maximum restraint', also renewed their willingness to 'work with partners' to end the crisis in Gaza by 'reaching an immediate truce and the release of hostages'.

"Everyone agrees that Israel must respond. The question is how and when." An Israeli official approaching the Jewish state's retaliation against Iran for Saturday night's attack told the Washington Post. According to the source, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has asked the IDF to provide him with a list of targets, with Tel Aviv's goal being to 'send a message' to Tehran, but without causing casualties. Among the options on the government's table, the source points out, is a raid against a facility in Tehran or a cyber attack.

The Tehran Prosecutor's Office announced that the reformist daily Etemaad and the well-known political analyst Abbas Abdi will be prosecuted because of an article published by the newspaper about Iran's recent attack on Israel. "They are accused of endangering the psychological security of society," reads the Iranian Judiciary website, Mizan online. "The government says there is a need for deterrent measures against Israel but this makes no sense because Iran does not recognise Israel and wants Israel to be destroyed," Abdi wrote in an article published by Etemaad where he argued that the costs of a possible war against the Jewish state would outweigh the benefits. Another daily, Jahan-e Sanat, and a journalist from this newspaper will also be put on trial on the same charges, the Judiciary had announced yesterday, after an article about the consequences of the Iran-Israel conflict on the economic situation in Iran was published by the newspaper on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia admitted its involvement in the defence of Israel against the Iranian attack on Saturday night. Jewish media quoted a source in the Saudi royal family as saying that Riyadh's forces participated in the operation through which Iranian drones and missiles launched against Israel were intercepted. This operation involved the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Jordan, while intelligence information on Tehran's plans was reportedly received from the Emirates.

Iran's nuclear programme has 'never been at such an advanced stage'. This was claimed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak while updating the House of Commons on developments in the Middle East after Tehran's retaliation against Israel. Sunak went on to urge the international community to unite, reiterating the need to avoid escalation, but also emphasising the joint 'response' assured by the G7 to the Islamic Republic. He did not, however, take up the urging of his former minister Suella Braverman, of the ultra-right Tory party, to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (the so-called Pasdaran) as 'terrorist'.

The main risk to security comes from the potential actions of lone wolves. Thus Viminale sources, after the meeting of the National Committee for Public Order and Security convened by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, in the aftermath of Iran's attack on Israel. And from the apparatus there is also attention on irregular migratory flows to intercept potentially dangerous subjects. in this regard, controls remain in place at the eastern border.

In a conversation with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Iran's head of diplomacy, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, reiterated that Iran "does not welcome the escalation of tension in the region, but if the Israeli regime seeks adventure, our next response will be immediate, stronger, and broader". Abdollahian added that the crises in the Middle East "have their roots in the destructive role of the Israeli regime".

The war cabinet has concluded its meeting on Iran. According to Channel 12 TV, "several options" were discussed, each of which represents "a painful response" to Tehran's attack but without triggering "a regional war". According to the same source, the aim is to choose an option that 'is not blocked by the US'. The cabinet, according to media reports, will meet again tomorrow.

Israel will soon respond to the Iranian attack, perhaps as early as today. This is what the Wall Street Journal writes, citing American and Western sources, who nevertheless express the hope that this will not happen, as both Tel Aviv and Tehran have claimed victory in Saturday night's attack, which gives them a way out of the escalation.

The meeting of the Israeli war cabinet, which focused on the possible response of the Jewish state to the Iranian attack, was interrupted after three hours of discussions and is expected to resume tomorrow. This was reported by broadcaster Channel 12.

Israel has reportedly decided to postpone its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah after the weekend Iranian missile attack against the Jewish state. This was reported by CNN citing Israeli sources. The same news had been reported last night by the Israeli public broadcaster Kan but Likud, the party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had denied it.

The Mexican Foreign Ministry advised compatriots against non-essential travel to the Middle East, especially Israel and Iran, 'as consular assistance and protection could be seriously compromised due to escalating tensions in these countries'. The government then advised Mexicans in Israel to plan to leave the country 'as quickly as possible' and to keep themselves informed through local authorities about the safest evacuation routes and shelters closest to their homes.

- The Argentinian government has ordered the closure of four of its embassies abroad in response to the global security alert triggered by Iran's attack on Israel. These are the diplomatic posts in Israel, Iran, Syria and Lebanon. According to the authorities, this is a temporary measure for security reasons that has already been announced in a circular by the Foreign Ministry and will be in force until President Javier Milei defines the next steps in the escalation of the Middle East conflict.

Truth, Donald Trump's social networking site, plummeted on Wall Street, where it lost more than 17.83% before the start of trading. New disclosures to the SEC suggesting the issuance of additional shares are weighing heavily.

France 'intercepted' from Jordan Iranian missiles and drones launched against Israel during the night between Saturday and Sunday. This was confirmed to BFM TV by President Emmanuel Macron. "We," he said, "have an air base in Jordan. Jordanian airspace was violated by these launches. We took off our planes and intercepted what we had to intercept."

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will leave office on 15 May and hand over to his deputy Lawrence Wong. This was announced today by his office. Lee, 72, will formally advise the president of the city-state to appoint Wong, currently Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, as his successor. Wong, who has the unanimous support of the ruling People's Action Party MPs, will be sworn in on the same day.

Several people, including Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, were stabbed during mass at a church in Wakeley, Sydney. Australian media reported this. The injured are not in serious condition according to the police, who also announced the arrest of a man.

The Israeli war management cabinet will meet at 2pm local time (1pm in Italy) for another discussion on the issue of the response to the attack that Iran launched against Israel on Saturday night. Ynet reports.

In the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, the bodies of 68 people who died in Israeli shelling were brought to hospitals and 94 others were injured. This was reported by the Gaza Health Ministry, pointing out that with these victims, the number of dead rises to 33,797 and the number of wounded to 76,456 in the Strip since the beginning of the war on 7 October. The ministry in its figures does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but reported that two-thirds of the dead are children and women. Also according to the Gaza Health Ministry, many victims were left under the rubble. Israel launched its war against Hamas after the militant group's complex attack on southern Israel on 7 October. According to Israeli authorities, 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack and about 250 were taken hostage. Israel claims to have killed 12,000 militants in its offensive.

"Iran's limited attack on Israel on Saturday night was intended to warn, deter and punish the Zionist regime. But if Israel takes further action against Iran, it will surely face a very strong response." This was said by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Serghei Lavrov.

"Yesterday, I spoke with the other G7 partners on a conference call about what to do, and I was pleased to see that our assessment is identical and our appeal is clear: Iran must shelve this aggression". German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this in a press briefing in Shanghai, broadcast by Ntv in Germany. To a question about Israel's possible reaction, Scholz added: 'Our advice is for them to participate in de-escalation themselves'.

Iran has resumed operations at Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport in the capital Tehran. This was reported by Al-Jazeera. The authorities had closed the airports on Sunday before launching Saturday's unprecedented attack with missiles and drones against Israel in response to the April 1 attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.

The foreign ministers of several countries in the region held separate telephone talks last night with their Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, expressing concern over escalating tensions in the region. "Iran is fully prepared to defend the country's territorial integrity and national interests," Amirabdollahian told Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, quoted by Mehr. He stressed that Tehran will legally pursue the Israeli attack and the inaction of the UN Security Council in condemning the regime due to the opposition of the US, France and the UK'. In separate telephone talks, the senior diplomats, including those of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, India and Malta, also emphasised the need for regional stability and urged all parties to be responsible and make attempts to avoid an escalation of tensions.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that there is a 'plan B', even a 'plan C' for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, in case of security concerns. In the event of a threat, the opening ceremony will be 'limited to the Trocadero' or even the Stade de France, said the Elysée chief interviewed by Bfmtv. ''We will make a real-time analysis'' of the risks, he assured, explaining that ''intelligence resources'' will be ''mobilised'' and that a ''security perimeter will be set up days in advance''.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he ''hopes for an Olympic truce'' that would suspend the conflict in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel, but also the Russian aggression of Ukraine. Interviewed by broadcaster Bfmtv, the Elysée chief also said he would ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to help him achieve this goal. ''We will work for an Olympic truce,'' Macron said.

"You cannot say that Israel is an aggressor": the French president, Emmanuel Macron, thus explained Israel's presence at the Paris 2024 Games while Russia was not invited and only Russian athletes under a neutral flag will be allowed to parade. "Israel was the victim of a terrorist attack and is fighting back".

Speaking in an interview 100 days before the Olympics on RMC Sport and BFM TV, French President Emmanuel Macron accused Iran of responding 'disproportionately' to the attack on its consulate in Damascus.

"Iran's attack on Israel, in response to the Zionists' attack on the Iranian consulate premises in Damascus, was the minimum punitive action necessary to ensure our national interests and security, based on the UN chapter," Tehran's Supreme National Security Council said. "Iran exclusively targeted Israeli military bases during the operation and no military action against the regime is currently planned," the council stressed in a statement, quoted by Irna, adding, "The Zionist regime has crossed red lines. If the regime continues its evil actions against Iran by any means and at any level, it will receive a 10 times stronger response."

"During the last 24 hours, the Russian army struck the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia 400 times, one woman was killed in the Vasilievsky district," Governor Ivan Fedorov announced on Telegram, quoted by Ukrainska Pravda. 'In total, the Russians in a single day hit the Zaporozhzhia region 400 times. Seven localities came under enemy fire: namely Gulyaypole, Levadnoye, Robotino, Malaya Tokmachka, Malinovka and Novoandreevka.

During a night session of the UN Security Council, Israel's envoy Gilad Erdan declared that "the mask of Iranian deniability has been removed. There can be no more hiding and no more bluffing. One can no longer shirk responsibility. Iran has attacked Israel from its sovereign territory, publicly and proudly. The mask has been taken off'. Erdan himself wrote in X. He continued: 'Iran, the world's leading sponsor of terror, has revealed its true face as a destabiliser of the region and the world.... It is time for the world to stop ignoring Iran's crimes and take action," he said. "All terrorist groups attacking Israel are tentacles of the same Shia octopus, the Iranian octopus," and urged Council members to "impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it is too late."

Israeli forces bombed a mosque in the Nuseirat camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip, razing it to the ground. This was reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, adding that the IDF also bombed a residential building.

Kiev, 15 Apr (Adnkronos) - Russia has lost 454,420 soldiers in Ukraine since the war began on 24 February 2022. This was reported by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This number includes 770 casualties suffered by Russian forces in the last day. According to the report, Russia also lost 7,180 tanks, 13,796 armoured fighting vehicles, 15,510 vehicles and fuel tanks, 11,593 artillery systems, 1,046 multiple-launch rocket systems, 758 air defence systems, 347 aircraft, 325 helicopters, 9,266 drones, 26 boats and one submarine.

Israeli aircraft shot down a drone heading towards Israel and coming from the east. This was reported by the IDF, adding that "the uav was monitored by soldiers, posed no threat and no sirens were sounded according to protocol. No injuries were reported and no damage was caused'.

Israeli UN envoy Gilad Erdan urged the UN Security Council to impose "all possible sanctions" against Iran after the Islamic republic's unprecedented attack on Israel. "Today the Council must act and condemn Iran for its terrorism," Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the body, calling on countries to "impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it is too late." Iran's UN envoy told the Security Council on Sunday that the Islamic republic is exercising its "inherent right to self-defence" in its unprecedented attack on Israel.

US President Joe Biden urged Congressional leaders to pass a bill that would include $14 billion in aid to Israel. In a call to discuss Iran's attack on Israel. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who participated in the call with Biden, told Fox News that his party understands "the need to stand with Israel" and will try to move the spending package forward this week.

China first called Israel's attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria "extremely vicious" and then expressed "deep concern" over Iran's retaliation against Israel, urging "utmost calm and restraint" to all parties involved. This was Beijing's position reiterated during the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the Iranian attack. The number two of the Chinese permanent representation, Dai Bing, reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, noting that the "humanitarian catastrophe is to be considered unacceptable".

According to US officials quoted by the Wall Street Journal, half of Iran's ballistic missiles against Israel failed to launch or fell before reaching their target. According to Israel, Tehran launched more than 170 explosive-laden drones, about 120 ballistic missiles, and about 30 cruise missiles, almost all of which were intercepted.

Iran's UN envoy told the Security Council that Tehran was exercising its "inherent right to self-defence" in its unprecedented attack on Israel. "The Security Council failed in its duty to maintain international peace and security" after the apparent Israeli attack on an Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier this month, Amir Saeid Iravani said. Therefore, Tehran "had no choice" but to respond, he said, adding that his country "does not seek escalation or war", but will respond to any "threat or aggression".

Israel's permanent representative to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, called on the international community to condemn the Iranian attack on Israel using the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "In recent years Ukrainian civilians have been killed from the sky with Iranian weapons," Erdan said during yesterday's emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. "Condemning the Iranian attack," the Israeli official continued, "Zelensky said that 'the sound of Iranian Shahed drones is the same in the skies of the Middle East and Europe and must serve as a wake-up call for the free world. Listen to President Zelensky - Erdan urged - and wake up'.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts from the UK and Germany yesterday after Iran's attack on Israel. All parties agreed "on the importance of condemning the Iranian attack in the strongest possible terms and preventing further escalation," reads a US State Department statement quoted by US media.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry returned last night to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, seeing the Iranian attack on Israel as a warning of the danger of an escalation of conflict in the region long feared by Cairo. He did so during two separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart Hussein Amir Abdollahian and Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Shoukry, reports his spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, expressed Egypt's 'deep concern about the unprecedented military escalation between Iran and Israel, which threatens to spiral out of control and threaten the stability of the region by endangering civilians in each country'. He then urged Iran and Israel "to show utmost restraint and refrain from mutual provocations that could increase tension and instability in the Middle East". Egypt, he added, is ready to "intensify its efforts in cooperation with its partners to defuse the current crisis, which has at its heart the continuous attacks on the Gaza Strip and the daily suffering of the Palestinian people", calling for "the voice of reason to prevail by entrusting diplomatic efforts to find solutions that preserve the stability of the Middle East and the security of the peoples of the region". In conclusion, speaking with Israeli Foreign Minister Katz, Shoukry reaffirmed Egypt's firm position that "demands a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid and rejecting any measures aimed at driving Palestinians from their lands". A position, he reiterated, firmly opposed to any military ground operation in the Palestinian Rafah.

US President Joe Biden had a virtual meeting with Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Dem Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries 'to discuss Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel'. The White House reports. During the call Biden spoke of 'the urgent need for the House to pass as soon as possible' the National Security Act, where there is new aid to Ukraine, Israel and Gaza.

Military aid to Kiev is limited, while Moscow continues to have access to 'critical components needed to produce missiles and drones', Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last night. "Every missile targeting Ukraine contains at least dozens of electronic components and chips supplied by companies in other countries and imported through the territory of Russia's neighbours," Zelensky said in his daily address to the country published on the Kiev presidency's website. "All this must and can be stopped, including the tolerance of terror, the ability of terrorists to seek allies around the world and Russian terrorism itself, in all its manifestations," the Ukrainian president stressed. Zelensky added that the fact that 'sanctions against Russia are still being circumvented' and that Kiev has been waiting for months for US military aid 'shows that the terrorists' confidence has also been growing for months'.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke in separate phone calls with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safad and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud about Iran's attack on Israel. This was reported by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. With the ministers, Blinken stressed the importance of avoiding escalation and coordinating on a diplomatic response. The US Secretary of State also addressed the ongoing efforts to increase humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip, protect Palestinian civilians, and achieve an immediate ceasefire to ensure the release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Iran 'had no choice but to exercise its right to self-defence'. Tehran's ambassador to the UN, Saed Iravani, said this during the Security Council's emergency meeting. "The SSC failed in its duty to maintain international peace and security" by not condemning the April 1 Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and "under these conditions, the Islamic Republic had no choice but to exercise its right to self-defence," he reiterated.