War, latest news. Ukraine, possible new Italian decree for military aid. Israel, Austin-Gallant phone call, focus on regional stability

In the first quarter of the year, 2,505 people were killed or injured in gang-related violence in Haiti. This is a 53% increase compared to the period October-December 2023. This was reported by Binuh, the UN mission in Haiti, emphasising that this is the most violent period since the beginning of 2022. At the same time, at least 438 people were kidnapped for ransom in the West and Artibonite departments.

The highest number of murder and injury victims was recorded in the capital Port-au-Prince, where extremely violent clashes between gangs, motivated mainly by territorial expansion, have increased. In addition, Binuh notes, more than 4,600 prisoners have escaped from the capital's two main prisons. At least 22 police stations and substations and buildings were looted or set on fire and 19 police officers were killed or injured. The report highlights that the impact of gang violence on children 'remains extremely worrying'. At least 82 children, some as young as six years old, were killed or injured in the first quarter of 2024. Driven primarily by a lack of socio-economic opportunities, the UN points out, 'many children have also been recruited by gangs to participate in criminal activities'.

The gangs, the UN notes, continued to use sexual violence. In some parts of the capital, women and girls were intercepted by gang members on their way to work or school and subjected to gang rape. Some of them were killed after being sexually assaulted. In the first quarter of 2024, there was also an increase in the number of people killed or injured during police operations and patrols, with 590 people killed. Faced with this situation of insecurity and violence, the report recommends that the international community keep Haiti on its agenda and accelerate the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission in accordance with human rights norms and standards.

The Russian Tupolev Tu-22Mz strategic bomber that was shot down recently was hit from 308 km away at the end of a 'stakeout' that had been going on for at least a week by the Ukrainian defence forces, the head of Kiev's military intelligence service (Gur), Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview with the Ukrainian BBC, also picked up by other Ukrainian media. "For a week there was, let's say, a stakeout. We were waiting for (the Russian bomber) to reach the desired destination,' Budanov said, likening its shooting down to that of the Russian A-50 radar plane. The Gur chief commented that Moscow has other strategic bombers of that type, but that now the Ukrainian air defence actions will make their life more difficult and "the defence of Odessa easier". Budanov said that in the Black Sea city, the greatest destruction of civilian buildings was caused by Kh-22 missiles launched by the Tu-22Mz. The Soviet-era Kh-22 missiles are not very accurate but difficult to intercept, Budanov explained. Now, according to Budanov, the Russians will have to look for new sites to launch their missiles, for which they will be forced to use 'only land-based complexes for attacks on Odessa and long-range aviation missiles and from the sea', the Black Sea being unsafe for Russian ships.

The Israeli army reports that sirens warning of air raids are sounding in southern Israel. Israeli army radio also reported that fragments of an air defence missile fell in a neighbourhood of Sderot, on the border with the Gaza Strip. Media reports stated that the fragments caused damage, but no injuries were reported.

The Palestinian Red Crescent says that Israeli army forces are still preventing its ambulances from entering the Nur Shams camp in Tulkarem, West Bank. Since yesterday, the Israeli army has raided the camp and the raid is still ongoing. At least five people, including a teenager, were killed, al Jazeera reported. The Prcs stated that one of its volunteer doctors was shot and injured while working in the refugee camp and that so far no ambulance has been able to reach him.

Iseaele has launched an air raid in southern Lebanon to hit some Hezbollah infrastructure, after at least three rockets were fired at Jewish state territory from that area. This was reported by the Israeli Air Force, cited by Israeli media, including YNet and Haaretz. The attack in Lebanon was also confirmed by the military spokesman.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad condemned the "silence" of the Arab world and the international community over what it described as crimes committed by Israeli forces and illegal settlers in the West Bank. In a statement, the group denounced the latest and ongoing Israeli raid on the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem. It also criticised settler attacks on Palestinians and their property, which have increased in recent weeks. According to Islamic Jihad, attempts by Western nations to sanction settlers will not help, while these same nations "turn a blind eye to ministers who arm and incite" settlers to carry out attacks.

The White House "does not want escalation in the region". This was said by spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, without further comment on Israel's attack on Iran overnight.

A man set himself on fire in front of the Manhattan courthouse where Trump's trial is taking place. Cnn reported this, pointing out that the news came as the selection of the 12 jurors, and 6 alternates, who will have to try the former president was being completed.

The Israeli Air Force struck Hezbollah military infrastructure in the Mansour and Aitaroun areas in southern Lebanon. This was announced by the IDF in a note, adding that the Israeli army this morning detected three projectile launching sites directed towards Kibbutz Yiftah in northern Israel. There were no casualties or damage, the Idf reported.

FBI Director Christopher Wray raised the alarm that Chinese government-linked hackers are "just waiting for the right time for a devastating attack" on critical infrastructure in the US. During a speech at Vanderbilt University, Wray revealed that a group of Chinese hackers, Volt Typhoon, had managed to infiltrate several American companies operating in critical sectors, such as energy or water, according to the International Business Times. In his speech, Wray then emphasised that China has the capability to inflict substantial damage on critical US infrastructure, and that the hackers' plan is to 'attack civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic'. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stated earlier this week that Volt Typhoon has no contact with the Chinese government but is part of a criminal group specialising in 'ransomware'.

In view of the approval, expected this weekend, of the military aid package to Ukraine, which has been blocked for months by the Republicans in the House, the Pentagon is already preparing for the urgent dispatch of much-needed artillery and air defence systems to Kiev. Politico writes this, citing two American sources who explain how the US Defence is working to speed up the bureaucracy for the first shipment as soon as the package is finally approved in Congress and signed by Joe Biden. The sources explain that many weapons are in stockpiles in Europe and could therefore be immediately shipped to Ukraine, some within a few days, while others will take weeks. "We certainly understand the urgency and are prepared to move quickly," Pentagon spokesman General Patrick Ryder said, without going into detail about the package, but explaining that the US has "a very robust logistics network that allows us to move material very quickly," possibly within days.

Italy is reasoning about further military aid to be provided to Ukraine as soon as possible. On the table - one learns - is the possibility of a new decree for sending armaments. It would be the ninth, after the last one last December. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto took part in the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting today, where it was agreed that a further effort was needed to support Kiev. Air defence systems at the top of the pressing demands. Italy has its Samp-t, but must reckon with the need not to leave national defence uncovered, with the G7 underway and the Jubilee close by. Crosetto himself has repeatedly stressed that almost everything that could be given has been given; however, a reflection is underway to assess the new weapons that could be sent to Kiev.

Cyber-Partisans, a group of Belarusian hacker activists, announced that they had attacked the state-owned Grodno Azot plant, the country's largest in the fertiliser industry, to pressure the government to release political prisoners. The hackers claim to have damaged the plant, destroying backup systems and encrypted internal mail, affecting the flow of documents and hundreds of PCs. Grodno Azot did not comment on the hackers' announcement, but the plant's website has not been reachable since Wednesday, the day Cyber-Partisans claimed the attack.

The coordinator of the hacker group, Yuliana Shametavets, told the Associated Press that the attack was designed so that it only affected the company's documentation. The plant, in fact, uses dangerous substances such as ammonia. Grodno Azot, with around 7,500 employees, is a key producer in the country, whose economy is heavily dependent on chemical industries. After the 2020 protests, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko launched a harsh repression that, according to human rights activists, led to the arrest of some 35,000 people, including almost 1,400 political prisoners. Among them are prominent domestic opposition figures such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, founder of the human rights group Viasna.

Ukrainian leader Wolodymyr Zelensky was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying that 'Israel was not left alone to face an Iranian air attack' and that 'Nato countries do not need to invoke Article 5 to help Ukraine'. Nato needs to decide "whether we are really allies", Ukrainian President Volymyr Zelensky said speaking at the Nato-Ukraine Council. "Our skies must become safe again," he added during a video conference with alliance defence ministers. "And it depends entirely on your choice. Choose whether life really has the same value everywhere. Choose whether you have an equal attitude towards all partners. Choose whether we are truly allies."

Wafa, the Palestinian Information Agency, reported that four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli army operation in Nur Shams, near Tulkarem in the West Bank. According to the reconstruction, "Israeli special forces raided a house in the Al-Iyada neighbourhood of the camp and eliminated 4 youths who had barricaded themselves inside". It is not yet clear whether the 4 killed also include Salim Faisal Abdel Latif Ghannam (30) whose death was announced a few hours ago. According to Palestinian media - echoed by Israeli media - the latter was the commander of the military wing of Islamic Jihad in Tulkarem.

New US sanctions for Jewish settler violence in the West Bank. The State Department hits Ben Zion Gopstein, founder and leader of Lehava, "an organisation whose members are involved in destabilising violence in the West Bank". In the Treasury Department's crosshairs instead are two entities, Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich, "for their role in creating fundraising campaigns on behalf of two extremists engaged in violent activities, respectively Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai, already sanctioned by the US".

A member of Iran's Parliamentary Committee for National Security, Shahriar Heidari, said that the flying objects targeted by Iran's defence system today were 'American or Israeli mini surveillance drones'. "Investigations are continuing to see if there was any damage during the incident," Heidari added. The explosions in Isfahan "were linked to an Israeli operation and were ridiculous," said Parliamentary Presidential Council spokesman Nezameddin Mousavi. "Israel has accepted their defeat and they are pleased with these unsuccessful moves," he added.

Mehdi Toghyani, a member of the Iranian parliament in Isfahan, says that Israel's 'desperate attempt' 'with the help of local agents' has 'failed and brought them a new misfortune'. Al Jazeera reports that. "Let them know that we are ready to protect our dear Iran," the MP wrote on X. Kioumars Heydari, commander-in-chief of the Iranian army's ground forces, says Iran remains vigilant: 'If suspicious flying objects appear in the country's skies, they will be targeted by our powerful air defence,' he told Irna, also filmed by Al Jazeera, before Friday prayers in Tehran.

Alarm over in Paris, where a man was arrested after barricading himself in an Iranian consulate building in the 16th arrondissement. According to prefecture sources, quoted by le Figaro, the man - who was seen entering the consulate around 11am - allegedly had a grenade or an explosive vest with him, information later denied by security authorities. The police prefect, Laurent Nuñez, ordered the immediate deployment of special units. The prefecture pointed out that the Iranian consulate had made a 'request for intervention'.

The area was entirely cordoned off and inaccessible to anyone not part of the security services. Traffic on the metro lines serving the neighbourhood is disrupted.

"Israel's response is the minimum, and perhaps below the minimum, to be able to say that it has responded to Iran's attack". This was stated to Adnkronos by General Leonardo Tricarico, former Air Force Chief of Staff and current president of the Icsa foundation, regarding Israel's attack on Iran. Regarding the attack on the Isfahan base, General Tricarico observes: "I believe that if it was a drone, it was a drone that did not leave Israel, an absolutely inconceivable hypothesis from a military point of view considering the very limited speed of drones, their vulnerability, the fact that they are so far away and the fact that they did not need electro-optical sensors to detect a target that was certainly already on the Israeli army's target list". According to the former Air Force Chief of Staff, 'if it was a drone, it could have originated from Iranian territory by dissidence groups supporting Israeli action'. According to Gen. Tricarico, 'hopefully and probably, the issue with Iran should be closed, while there is no indication that the bellicosity of Iranian-related groups scattered in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq has been exhausted. The situation in Lebanon seems to be particularly delicate because the most consistent and militarily capable Iranian forces are stationed there, but the population does not tolerate them and their presence is viewed with intolerance by the Lebanese population.

Israel's 'aggression' against Iran is an escalation against the region, Hamas senior official Sami Abu Zuhri said after reports of an Israeli drone strike against an Iranian military site. The Times of Israel reported this. Hamas is part of the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance, along with the Lebanese Hezbollah and groups in Syria and Iraq.

A police operation is underway in Paris at the Iranian Consulate, located in the rue de Fresnel, in the residential 16/o arrondissement. Police sources told Le Parisien. At around 11am, a suspicious man was reportedly seen by a witness entering the consular building in Tehran.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, after Israel's attack on Iran, 'reiterates that the time has come to stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East'. Glass Palace spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a note that the secretary-general "condemns any act of retaliation and appeals to the international community affin

Il segretario generale dell’Onu, Antonio Guterres. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

working together to prevent any further development that could lead to devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond'.

"There are no clear statements on this issue". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this, referring to the attack attributed to Israel against Iran. "Israel says different things, similarly Iran also says different things, when we hear Iran's statements it is difficult to think that it could be the truth and the same goes for Israel's statements," Erdogan said during a meeting with journalists in Istanbul broadcast by Turkish state TV Trt.

Il presidente turco Recep Tayyip Erdogan. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

"Russia is not only a threat to Ukraine but will remain a threat to other European countries as well" and "China cannot have a foot in the door, it cannot have friendly relations with European countries and at the same time fuel the biggest threat to European security since the Cold War". This was said by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the end of the G7 Foreign Affairs meeting. "I believe that what we see today is a product of the relationship between China and Russia. We have made it clear to China not to supply arms to Russia for its aggression on Ukraine, we have not seen direct supplies but they are key supplies of components."

The US House rules committee, the committee responsible for defining the rules under which bills are introduced, cleared the way overnight for the four separate measures proposed by Speaker Mike Johnson for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. A decisive vote by the Dems, who voted in favour, neutralising the opposition of the Republican hawks and allowing the bills to reach the floor today. The vote is scheduled for tomorrow.

"The only thing preventing a ceasefire in Gaza is Hamas, because it has refused generous offers from Israel". This was said by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a press conference at the end of the G7 summit in Capri. "Hamas seems much more interested in a regional conflict," he added.

"Italy is an important player and can play a central role in de-escalation" in the Middle East. This was said by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, at a press conference in Capri at the end of the G7.

The European Union has decided to sanction radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank for the first time for acts of violence against Palestinians, diplomatic sources confirmed to Dpa. The agreement was finalised today through the written procedure, which allows member states to make decisions on urgent matters without sending ministers to Brussels. The sanctions target individuals and organisations responsible for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, diplomats said. Those subject to sanctions will no longer be able to enter the EU or do business with EU citizens, and any assets or accounts they have in the EU will be frozen. The measures were imposed as part of an EU sanctions regime designed to punish human rights violations.

"I want first of all to repeat our approach" which is to "avoid escalation and we call on all parties to control their actions". On Rafah "we have been very clear that we cannot support a military operation in Rafah". This was said by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a press conference at the end of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Capri. "We believe that the same objectives can be achieved by other means".

Il segretario di Stato Usa Antony Blinken. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

"The G7 is committed to Israel's security and to achieving de-escalation" in the Middle East. This was said by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a press conference at the end of the G7 meeting in Capri, recalling the agreement on the need for new arms-related sanctions.

"I confirm what the Prime Minister said, also in light of my conversation with Minister Crosetto in the presence of Ukrainian Minister Kuleba. We will do everything possible for the air protection of Ukraine, let's see what can be done". This was said by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at a press conference at the end of the G7 summit in Capri, replying to a question on Kiev's request for Samp-t.

Finland's decision to close border crossings with Russia due to the wave of migrants is a security issue that the entire 27-member bloc must consider. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this during a trip to the border, visiting a part of the border located in the Arctic.

"We all know how (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his allies instrumentalise migrants to test our defences and try to destabilise us," von der Leyen said. "Now Putin is focusing on Finland, and this is undoubtedly a response to your firm support for Ukraine and your NATO membership."

From the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Capri comes an appeal and a warning: a call to avoid escalation in the Middle East and the threat of new sanctions on Iran. Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani called for 'de-escalation' after reports came in of an Israeli attack on Iran. "In light of the news about the raids on 19 April, we call on all parties to work to prevent further escalation. The G7 will continue to work for this. We call on all parties, both in the region and beyond, to offer their contribution to this effort," reads the final communiqué of the Capri summit. And then the warning of possible new sanctions. "We demand that Iran and its affiliated groups cease their attacks. We will hold the Iranian government accountable for its harmful and destabilising actions and stand ready to take further sanctions or other measures now and in response to further destabilising initiatives."

"If the Israeli regime commits a serious mistake again, our response will be decisive, definitive and for them a regret". This was stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in an interview with CNN, as reported by Irna. "Our next response will be immediate and at the highest level in case the Israeli regime again embarks on adventurism and takes actions against Iran's interests," Amirabdollahian said, stating that the US has been informed of this through the Swiss embassy in Tehran and that the Islamic Republic does not seek to raise tensions.

An unidentified Iranian source quoted by 'Times of Israel' said that "the foreign origin of the incident has not been confirmed". He added: "we have not received any external attack and current discussions lean more towards an infiltration than an attack".

The 27 EU member states have "for months" been asking the Commission's External Action Service (EEAS) to expand the sanctions regime applied to Iran on drones but the service is "dragging its feet" because it has its own "agenda". This was said by a senior diplomatic source on the eve of next Monday's Foreign-Defence Council, which will address the issue of sanctions on Tehran. "The leaders have been clear, there is the necessary consensus among the 27," the source points out. The idea is to include in the restrictive measures also the production of missiles and their delivery to 'proxies' in the region, so that Iran "pays a price".

CIA Director William Burns warned US Congressmen yesterday that Kiev could lose the war by the end of the year if aid to Ukraine is not approved now, Politico reports. Speaking at an event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Burns urged parliamentarians to approve the proposal that would allocate additional billions of dollars to Ukraine's war efforts. "With the boost that would come from military assistance, both practically and psychologically, Ukrainians would be fully capable of holding out until 2024 and disproving Putin's arrogant view that time is on his side," Burns said. However, if aid does not pass Congress, "the picture will be much more dire," he continued. "There is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024, or at least put Putin in a position to essentially dictate the terms of a political solution."

The Biden administration is considering a new arms supply worth over a billion to Israel. This was reported - citing US sources - by the Wall Street Journal as reported by Haaretz. The supply, which would include tank ammunition, mortar rounds, and military vehicles, would be in addition to the one already being considered by Congress and, according to the WSJ, would be among the largest made to Israel since Hamas started the conflict on 7 October.

Egypt expresses 'its deep regret at the Security Council's failure to pass a resolution allowing Palestine to obtain full membership in the UN', which Cairo considers 'an inherent right of the Palestinian people who have been suffering under Israeli occupation for more than 70 years'. This was stated in a Foreign Ministry note published on the official news website. "The current moment is critical," the note adds, "as the Palestinian issue is at a crossroads and requires countries to assume their historical responsibility by taking a position in support of Palestinian rights. "The UN Security Council is unable to pass a draft resolution accepting Palestine's full membership in the UN due to the US veto." "Obstructing the recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to recognise their own state," the Egyptian note stresses, "is inconsistent with the legal and historical responsibility entrusted to the international community to end the occupation and reach a final and just solution to the Palestinian question. Egypt therefore calls on "those who support peace and the recognition of the Palestinian state to take the necessary responsibility in the current circumstance to restore hope in a revival of the peace process on a serious basis leading to the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, living in peace side by side with Israel".

Military personnel were seen this morning shortly after Israel's alleged attack on the Zardanjan nuclear facility in the Isfahan district. The images were released by the West Asia News Agency and were filmed by Sky News.

- "The false greatness of the Zionists has been destroyed". This was stated by Kioumars Heydari, commander of the Iranian Army's ground forces, in reference to Iran's attack on Israel last weekend. One of the results of the attack was "changing the balance of power in the region in favour of the Islamic Republic," Heydari said, as reported by Iranian state TV, without mentioning today's attack in Esfahan attributed to Israel. "The presence of foreign forces has failed to ensure regional security," Heydari added.

'Experts are investigating the incident and will report on the matter after receiving the results', says Iranian army commander-in-chief Abdolrahim Mousavi, according to Irna, reported by CNN. Mousavi reiterated that the explosion heard was caused 'by the air defence firing at a suspicious object'.

- "This operation demonstrated the authority of the Islamic Republic's system and the power of our armed forces, as well as the iron will of the people under the leadership of the supreme leader of the revolution," Ali Khamenei. This was stated by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, speaking about Iran's attack on Israel last weekend. Raisi called the action 'necessary' during a speech in Damghan, in the northern province of Semnan, as reported by Irna, and did not comment on the attack in Esfahan attributed to Israel.

The attack on Iran attributed to Israel was the focus of the opening of the last day of the G7 in Capri, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly sharing with partners the information the Americans have on the operation. A G7 Foreign Minister's statement is expected to define the action as 'limited', reiterating the call to Israel and Iran not to overreact.

TOPSHOT -Un uomo guida una moto davanti a un cartellone raffigurante missili balistici iraniani a Teheran (Photo by AFP)

The Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army, Abdolrahim Mousavi, called reports attributing the attacks in Esfahan to Israel 'absurd' and claimed that the explosions were the sound of 'flying objects' being shot down. This was reported by Iran International. Regarding a potential retaliation by Tehran against the Jewish state, Mousavi said that Israel "has already seen Iran's response".

The attack in Iran last night 'was conducted by small drones, possibly launched from inside the country itself'. An Iranian source told the New York Times, reported by Haaretz. According to the same source, 'the country's radar systems did not intercept unidentified aircraft that entered Iran's airspace'.

Due tecnici nei pressi del complesso per l'arricchimento dell'uranio di Isfahan ANSA-ARCHIVIO/ I54

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (Ukmto) centre has warned 'ships transiting the Arabian Gulf and western Indian Ocean may observe an increase in drone activity in the region' and has issued a 72-hour safety notice to this effect, asking ship masters to 'report any suspicious activity'. The Ukmto points out, however, that 'there are currently no indications that commercial vessels are a target'. "The Ukmto is aware of media reports of an Israeli military attack against Iran," the centre points out. According to the U.S. Maritime Administration, since November, Yemen's Houthis have launched at least 53 attacks on shipping, seized one ship and sunk another. Houthi attacks have declined in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a US-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has decreased due to the threat.

The Russian Defence Ministry said today that one of its long-range bombers, a Tupolev Tu-22M3, crashed in Russia's Stavropol region due to a technical failure, adding that one of the four crew members lost his life in the accident. This was reported by Interfax. Earlier, the Kiev army had announced that it had shot down - for the first time since the beginning of the war - a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber used to launch cruise missiles against cities in the country.

"Rescue operations are ongoing in Dnipro after the Russian attack. Several floors of an ordinary residential building were destroyed and the railway station was damaged. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Kryvyi Rih and Synelnykove were also hit. All the injured were rescued. Unfortunately, there are also casualties. My condolences to the families and friends,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram, commenting on the Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro.

A senior Iranian official said that Tehran does not expect an immediate retaliation after tonight's military action by Israel. This was written by the Russian news agency Tass.

Un uomo passa davanti a uno striscione raffigurante missili lungo una strada a Teheran il 19 aprile 2024

No damage was caused in Israel's night attack on Iran. This was told on Iranian state TV by Siavosh Mihandoust, commander of the Iranian army, adding that the noise heard during the night in Isfahan was due to air defence systems targeting a "suspicious object". Iranian media released pictures of Ifshan this morning minimising the damage.

The mini-drones shot down by Iranian air defences in Esfahan were piloted by 'infiltrators' from inside Iran: this was claimed by analysts quoted by Iranian state TV, as reported by the Times of Israel.

'Moscio'. This is how Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli Minister of National Security and leader of the radical right, called Israel's attack on Iran on X.

The IAEA did not record any damage to Iranian nuclear facilities after the drone raid attributed to Israel in Iran, near Esfahan. This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency in a note confirming the assurances already provided by Tehran in this regard.

The United States vetoed the draft UN Security Council resolution recommending Palestine's full membership in the UN. The text received 12 votes in favour, two abstentions (Great Britain and Switzerland) and the US no. The Palestinian Authority led by Abu Mazen spoke of "blatant aggression" that pushes the Middle East "to the brink of the abyss". Condemnation also from Hamas, which promises the continuation of the struggle "until the creation of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital".

Israel had warned the US that it would retaliate against Iran in the coming days, CNN reported, citing a senior US executive. "We did not approve of the response," the source said. Just yesterday, in fact, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had spoken with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant. From the White House, for the moment, no official comment on the raid. Australia, on the other hand, urged its citizens in Israel to 'leave if it is safe to do so'.

Israel launched a attack on Iran, striking a military base in the province of Esfahan, in the central part of the country. The airspace over Tehran and other cities was closed for several hours. Explosions were also recorded in southern Syria, while warning sirens sounded in northern Israel. Iran admitted to shooting down drones, but not missiles, denying reports of large explosions. Israel's response to Iran came on the birthday of Supreme Leader Khamenei, born on 19 April 1939.