Middle East

US does not want to see Middle East crisis ‘escalate’

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – The United States does not want to see an escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, a top White House official said Sunday after Israel repelled a massive missile and drone attack from Iran. “We don’t want to see this escalate,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on NBC’s “Meet the Press”. “We’re not looking for a wider war with Iran.” Israel was on high […]

Hezbollah source says Israel struck position in east Lebanon

BEIRUT, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – A Hezbollah source said Israel struck Sunday one of the Iran-backed group’s buildings in Lebanon’s east, close to the Syrian border, as tensions soared after Iran directly attacked Israel. “The Israeli strike targeted an area… near Baalbek and targeted a two-storey building belonging to Hezbollah,” a source within the Lebanese group told AFP, adding there were no casualties. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that “an enemy air strike […]

Sunak says UK had shot down ‘a number’ of Iranian attack drones

LONDON, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called Sunday for “calm heads to prevail” as he confirmed that British fighter jets had shot down Iranian drones during Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel. Israel and its allies intercepted almost all of the missiles and drones fired by Iran during its first-ever attack on Israeli territory. Sunak joined world leaders in urging restraint as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned against any “reckless” Israeli […]

Iron Dome: Israel’s key anti-missile shield

JERUSALEM, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system has intercepted thousands of rockets since it first went into operation in 2011, providing the country with crucial cover during times of conflict. It has been heavily relied upon to protect military and civilian sites from frequent barrages of rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Israel’s air defences were also in operation on Saturday night, […]

Israel says Iran attack ‘foiled’ amid fears of wider conflict

By Jay Deshmukh and Louis Baudoin-Laarman JERUSALEM, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – Iran’s unprecedented overnight attack on Israel has been “foiled”, the Israeli military said Sunday, with hundreds of missiles and drones intercepted with the help of the United States and allies. The attack which began late Saturday marks a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes, and comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant […]

Iran says retaliation ‘concluded,’ warns Israel not to respond

By Jérôme RIVET, Ramin KHANIZADEH TEHRAN, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – Iran on Sunday urged Israel not to retaliate militarily to an unprecedented attack overnight, which Tehran presented as a justified response to a strike that destroyed its consulate building in Damascus earlier this month. “The matter can be deemed concluded,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said in a post on X just a few hours after the start of the operation late Saturday. […]

President Biden says US helped Israel down nearly all Iran attacks

By Danny Kemp and W.G. Dunlop WASHINGTON, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – President Joe Biden said US forces helped Israel shoot down nearly all the drones and missiles fired by Iran Saturday, but appeared to guide the key US ally away from retaliating against Tehran by saying Israel had now shown its strength. Biden added that he was convening fellow G7 leaders on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response against Tehran, in another sign that […]

Israel airspace reopened since 0430 GMT: airport authority

JERUSALEM, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – Israel’s airspace reopened Sunday at 7:30 am (0430 GMT) after it was closed following Iran’s attack on Israel, the Israeli airports authority said in a statement. “As of 07:30 in the morning, Israel’s airspace is reopening and Ben Gurion Airport is returning to operations”, the statement said, adding that domestic airports would reopen throughout the day. The airspace had been closed since 12:30 am (2130 GMT on Saturday).

Thousands gather in Iran in show of support for attack on Israel

By Majid SOURATI TEHRAN, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – Thousands of Iranians took to the streets of Iran early Sunday in a show of support for the unprecedented drone and missile attack under way against arch foe Israel. “Death to Israel!” and “Death to America!” chanted demonstrators in Tehran’s Palestine Square shortly after the Revolutionary Guards announced the launch of Operation Honest Promise. A mural saying “the next slap is fiercer” was unveiled in the […]

Hezbollah says launched new rocket barrage at Israeli-annexed Golan

BEIRUT, April 14, 2024 (AFP) – The Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah said on Sunday that it had launched a fresh barrage of rockets towards the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, hours after it joined in a major Iranian drone and missile attack targeting Israel. Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has regularly traded cross-border fire with Israel since the start of the ongoing war in Gaza, said in a statement that it had launched “dozens of Katyusha rockets” at three […]

Iran warns US to ‘stay away’ from conflict with Israel

“Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus,” Iran’s United Nations mission said on X. “Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” it warned. “It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the US MUST STAY AWAY!” It said it hoped its action to punish the strike on its diplomatic mission would lead to […]

UK sends additional fighter jets to Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran

LONDON, April 13, 2024 (AFP) – The UK government said Saturday it was sending additional fighter jets to the Middle East and would intercept airborne attacks as needed after Iran launched strikes on Israel. Tehran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack marked a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes. Iran had repeatedly threatened to retaliate against Israel for a deadly April 1 air strike on its Damascus consular annexe, and Washington […]