Israel calls for sanctions on Iran
Israel has called for fresh sanctions on Iran at a meeting of the UN security council.
Israel’s UN envoy, Gilad Erdan, has urged the council to “impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it’s too late” and “condemn Iran for their terror”, reports Agence France-Presse.
It’s as the UN secretary general called for restraint – fearing an escalation in the wake of Iran’s attacks on Israel.
“Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” António Guterres told the body’s Security Council as it met to discuss Saturday’s Iranian attack.
“The Middle East is on the brink,” he warned. “The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.”
Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, responded saying that the Islamic republic was exercising its “inherent right to self-defence” and “had no choice” but to act.
He insisted his country did “not seek escalation or war”, but would respond to any “threat or aggression”.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations also warned Washington to keep out of its conflict with Israel. It added in a message on X that “the matter can be deemed concluded”.
“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe.”
Iran launched its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, in retaliation for a deadly airstrike widely blamed on Israel that destroyed Tehran’s consular building in Syria’s capital in April.
Key events
The IDF spokesperson for the Arabic media Avichay Adraee has posted on X that Israeli has intercepted another drone.
According to translation, Israeli air force planes intercepted a drone flying into Israeli territory from the east.
Adraee says it did not pose a threat, but does not say who was believed to be responsible for the drone.
#عاجل خلال ساعات الليلة الماضية أعترضت طائرات حربية لسلاح الجو بنجاح مسيرة كانت تحلق في طريقها إلى الأراضي الاسرائيلية من جهة الشرق. لقد تابعت قوات جيش الدفاع القطعة الجوية التي لم تشكل تهديدًا وبالتالي لم يتم تفعيل انذارات وفق السياسة المتبعة. لم تقع إصابات أو أضرار
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) April 15, 2024
Israel’s defence forces have released some images of damage they say was caused after Iran’s drone and missile attack:
Japan’s foreign minister is preparing to delay a trip to Bahrain planned for later this week, amid Middle East tensions after Iran’s attack on Israel, three government officials said.
Yoko Kamikawa had notified parliament of her plans to visit Bahrain after the G7 foreign ministers’ summit in Italy from 17-19 April, according to Sankei newspaper.
Reuters also reports that the foreign ministry had not officially announced her trip.
One of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the planned cancellation was to add more flexibility in the minister’s schedule to respond to the crisis.
Japan has strongly condemned the attacks and joined other global powers and Arab nations in calling for restraint.
Bahrain’s embassy in Tokyo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hezbollah praises Iran’s attack on Israel
Lebanese group Hezbollah has praised Iran’s attack on Israel, describing it as a “brave” decision.
The Iran-backed group added in a statement on Sunday that Iran had exercised its legal rights despite “threats, intimidation and pressure”, according to the Reuters news agency.
The comments came as Israel said on Sunday that it had struck a Hezbollah site in Lebanon’s east near the Syrian border, in the wake of Iran’s attacks on Israel, reports Agence France-Presse.
A Hezbollah source also told AFP that “the Israeli strike targeted an area … near Baalbek and targeted a two-storey building belonging to Hezbollah”, adding there were no casualties.
Lufthansa suspends some flights until Monday
Lufthansa says it has suspended until Monday its flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel, Amman in Jordan, as well as Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, a spokesperson said.
The German airline is “constantly monitoring the situation in the Middle East”, a spokesperson told Agence France-Presse on Sunday.
Flights to and from Beirut and Tehran will remain suspended until at least 18 April, after the company said Friday its planes would no longer use Iranian airspace.
Lufthansa flights to the Iranian capital have been suspended since 6 April.
Israel announced the reopening of its airspace on Sunday morning, along with its neighbours Jordan and Lebanon, and Iraq, which borders Iran.
It was reported by Reuters earlier that United Airlines cancelled Sunday’s planned flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Tel Aviv, the airline said in a statement.
Let’s get some more detail on what emerged from the UN security council meeting called in the wake of Iran’s attack on Israel.
Israel’s UN ambassador Gilad Erdan said “the mask comes off and the gloves must come on”, calling on the body to “take action”, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Erdan asked the Security Council to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation and to “impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it’s too late.”
In particular, he referred to the “snapback” mechanism that allows members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal – which the United States exited in 2018 – to reimpose international sanctions against Tehran.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani also addressed the meeting and lashed out at Israel:
“It is time for the security council to shoulder its responsibility and address the real threat to international peace and security,” Iravani said.
The body “must take urgent and punitive measures to compel this regime to stop a genocide against the people of Gaza.”
The rising tensions come against the backdrop of Israel’s six-month-old war against Hamas in Gaza, which began after the Palestinian militant group’s 7 October attack in Israel. 1,170 people, mostly civilians, died in that attack according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,729 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Since the 1979 Iranian revolution – Israel has been considered by Iran to be a sworn enemy and calls for Israel’s destruction.
Until now, Tehran had refrained from attacking Israel head-on, and the two countries have opted instead to confronting each other through third parties.
On Sunday United Nations secretary general António Guterres urged restraint:
“It’s time to step back from the brink,” Guterres said.
The Israel-Gaza is continuing – a conflict seen as a trigger for this current round of tensions in the Middle East.
In the latest developments, Agence France-Presse is reporting that thousands of Palestinians are filing along the coast road, heading north on Sunday, after hearing that several people managed to cross a closed checkpoint towards Gaza City.
Israel denies opening the checkpoint.
An AFP journalist saw mothers holding their children’s hands and families piling on to donkey carts with their luggage as they made the journey.
They hoped to cross a military checkpoint on Al-Rashid road south of Gaza City, but the Israeli army told AFP that reports the route was open were “not true”.
Israel started its war on Gaza after the 7 October Hamas attacks. More than 1.5 million Palestinians have taken refuge in the southern city Rafah, according to the United Nations.
Biden speaks to King of Jordan in call
The US president, Joe Biden, has posted on X about his call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Biden said the call included discussion of the war in Gaza:
I spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan today about the situation in the Middle East. We agreed to remain in touch over the coming days as we continue to monitor the situation. We also discussed our efforts to increase critical humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The King said any “escalatory measures” by Israel would lead to a broader conflict in the region, according to the Royal Court, Associated Press reports.
The US president says he also spoke with some of the US forces involved in shooting down the Iranian drones.
I spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan today about the situation in the Middle East. We agreed to remain in touch over the coming days as we continue to monitor the situation. We also discussed our efforts to increase critical humanitarian assistance to Gaza. pic.twitter.com/JJqo7trLNv
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 15, 2024
In the US, House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week, in the wake of Iran’s attack.
The attack has increased the pressure on Johnson, but also gave him an opportunity to underscore the urgency of approving the funding, reports Associated Press.
Johnson told Fox News that he and Republicans “understand the necessity of standing with Israel” and he would try this week to advance the aid.
“The details of that package are being put together right now,” he said. “We’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues.”
Read more in our latest report on US funding to Israel and Ukraine:
Here’s our latest explainer on how the world is reacting to Iran’s attacks on Israel, including what happened at the UN security council meeting and Joe Biden’s warning to Israel that the US will not take part in any counteroffensive against Iran.
Read Adam Fulton’s piece here:
Israel set to reopen schools after Iran attack
Schools are due to reopen across Israel on Monday, Israel’s military has announced, after they were ordered closed due to Iran’s attack over the weekend.
After a “situational assessment”, the IDF said in a statement early Monday, “it was decided to restore educational activities across Israel”.
“In the areas of the northern border (with Lebanon) and communities near the Gaza Strip, educational activities will resume … with restrictions,” the statement continued, adding that curbs on large gatherings would also be lifted in most places, reports Agence France-Presse.
בתום הערכת מצב הוחלט כי החל מהיום בשעה 00:00, יבוצע שינוי במדיניות ההתגוננות של פיקוד העורף.
במסגרת השינויים הוחלט על חזרת הפעילויות החינוכיות בכל רחבי הארץ. באזורי הנחיה קו עימות ועוטף עזה יתאפשרו פעילויות חינוכיות בכפוף להגבלות>>
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) April 14, 2024
Let’s get more on that urgent G7 meeting called by US president Joe Biden and the subsequent statement that was released.
Here is some of that statement:
We, the leaders of the G7, unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel.
Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel. Israel, with the help of its partners, defeated the attack. We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security.
With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilisation of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided.
The statement also said “we will also strengthen our cooperation to end the crisis in Gaza, including by continuing to work towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas, and deliver increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need,” reports the Press Association (AP).
The Group of Seven advanced economies include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the US.
Israel and Iran have accused one another at the United Nations of being the main threat to peace in the Middle East. Each side has called on the UN security council to impose sanctions.
Here are some images from that tense meeting: