The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had successfully intercepted 99 per cent of the drones and missiles launched by Iran in a major escalation of hostilities between the two countries.
Iran had launched the attack directly from its territory late on Saturday, following an air strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals. Israel had been anticipating a possible attack in retaliation for the air strike, which Iran blamed on Israel and vowed revenge for.
The Chief of Staff of Iran’s armed forces declared that the attack on Israel had achieved all its objectives. Iran also issued a warning to Israel, stating that a larger attack on Israeli territory would follow if Israel sought to retaliate.
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Furthermore, Iran cautioned the United States against supporting any Israeli response to the attack.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene on Sunday to discuss Israel’s request to condemn Iran’s attack and designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
US President Joe Biden, after an urgent meeting with his top security officials, pledged Washington’s unwavering support for Israel during this escalating crisis.
In addition to Iran, Israel’s allies in the region, including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, also participated in the attack. The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, however, rejected an Israeli ceasefire proposal and submitted its response to mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
As the conflict intensifies, the casualties continue to rise. According to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory of Gaza, at least 33,729 Palestinians have been killed and 76,371 have been injured in Israel’s military offensive.
The October 7 attacks by Hamas, which sparked the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people and the capture of 250 hostages, with 132 individuals still missing, according to Israeli figures.
Israel’s primary objective in the conflict is to secure the return of the hostages taken by Hamas. However, Israel has made it clear that it will not cease its military operations until Hamas is completely dismantled as a military force.
The situation between Israel and Iran is highly volatile, with both sides engaged in a dangerous cycle of retaliation and escalation. The international community must work towards a peaceful resolution to prevent further loss of life and destabilization in the region.
