Iran has launched drone attack against Israel - April 13, 2024

[Dotta]

"European allies ​

urge Israel against military response to Iran ​

as war cabinet convenes.​

Cameron says UK pursuing new sanctions against Tehran, claims regime suffered ‘double defeat’; ​

Macron suggests diplomatic isolation more effective than military action.​

The United Kingdom, France and Germany
urged Israel on Monday
not to retaliate against Iran
after its unprecedented attack on Saturday night,

warning that a military response could send the Middle East spiraling into an all-out war,

as Israel’s war cabinet prepared to meet to discuss its options against Tehran."

https://www.timesofisrael.com/european-allies-urge-israel-against-military-response-to-iran-as-war-cabinet-convenes/

 

[kittythehare]

"European allies ​

urge Israel against military response to Iran ​

as war cabinet convenes.​

Cameron says UK pursuing new sanctions against Tehran, claims regime suffered ‘double defeat’; ​

Macron suggests diplomatic isolation more effective than military action.​

The United Kingdom, France and Germany
urged Israel on Monday
not to retaliate against Iran
after its unprecedented attack on Saturday night,

warning that a military response could send the Middle East spiraling into an all-out war,

as Israel’s war cabinet prepared to meet to discuss its options against Tehran."

https://www.timesofisrael.com/european-allies-urge-israel-against-military-response-to-iran-as-war-cabinet-convenes/

Meanwhile,

https://twitter.com/x/status/1780281882451615942

( The Hebrew channel "Kan" reported from sources: Netanyahu is chairing consultations at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense regarding a possible strike on Iran.)

 

[Dotta]

"How airlines across the world​

are responding to Middle East tensions.​

Airlines across the world are rerouting and cancelling services due to the conflict in the Middle East
in what has been described as the biggest disruption to air travel since 9/11.

October 7 attack in Israel has recently been escalated by
Iran's failed drone and missile attack on April 13.

The intervention caused 'chaos' in the aviation industry -
further narrowing options for planes navigating between Europe and Asia -
with over 10 airlines cancelling or rerouting flights in the following week.

Luton-based easyJet had previously suspended flights until April 21,
but has now extended the ban to cover the entire summer season."

More in the links

How airlines across the world are responding to Middle East tensions

Airlines across the world are rerouting and cancelling services due to conflict, including easyJet. Tensions escalated after Iran's drone and missile strike on Israel on April 13.

www.dailymail.co.uk

easyJet cancels all flights to Israel for the next six months

The budget airline said it would not reopen routes to Tel Aviv until October 27 - with any customers who already have tickets offered the choice of a refund.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[PapillonVert]

The purpose of the attack was not just to attack some other country's consulate because they wanted to take it out or hurt the workers or civilians. They had intel (that clearly was correct based on who died) that meetings were taking place with terrorists about moving weapons from Iran to Syria for terrorists to use against Israel, the US assets in the area, AND commercial ships.

@Vern who I trust to understand these things better than I do or any article written would, due to her job and experiences in Embassies around the world, has already posted that these types of meetings are NOT to be happening in an Embassy or Consulate. WHY would Iran be holding meetings with Hezbollah in their embassy in Syria?? Why is nobody asking that question? Maybe they were counting on nobody noticing those meetings and looking the other way. I think they saw the chance to take out high level terrorists and leaders of a military that were supporting it and arming them. I would hope that if your country knew the same was going on in a nearby country where terrorists were meeting with military leaders in an Embassy or consulate discussing getting more weapons to be used against your country, then they would act in order to keep your country safe too.

I agree, it sounds like Israel had intelligence that this building was being used for military purposes. Based on the link provided upthread by @Vern, the building would lose diplomatic protection in that case if I understand correctly.

Links-

“The Israeli military told CNN it does not comment on foreign reports. However, a military spokesperson said Israel believes the target struck was a “military building of Quds forces” — a unit of the IRGC responsible for foreign operations.

“According to our intelligence, this is no consulate and this is no embassy,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told CNN. “I repeat, this is no consulate and this is no embassy. This is a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building in Damascus.”

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/02/middleeast/iran-response-israel-damascus-consulate-attack-intl-hnk/index.html

“Zahedi was a top commander in IRGC’s Quds Force, a US-designated terrorist organization.

He was reportedly responsible for the unit’s operations in Syria and Lebanon, for Iranian militias there, and for ties with Hezbollah, and thus the most senior commander of Iranian forces in the two countries. Israel’s Army Radio said Zahedi oversaw all Iranian terrorist operations against Israel from Syria, Lebanon “and the Palestinian sphere.””

https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-iranian-irgc-commander-said-killed-in-alleged-israeli-strike-on-damascus/

 

[Chimera]

Israel 'strikes Iran' as explosions rock hostile state

Israel has conducted airstrikes on a target in Iran, US officials say.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Israel has conducted airstrikes on a target in Iran, US officials say.

An official told ABC News that strikes hit a site in Iran, however it is unclear what target was hit or the extent of the damage.
It comes in response to Iran launching a barrage of hundreds of drones and rockets at Israel on Saturday, which was largely thwarted by Israel and its international allies.
The city of Isfahan is the site of one of Iran's nuclear facilities. Red emphasis mine.
The red bolded is important as this is self-defense.

If Israel doesn't defend itself, there's a possibility that Iran could use its' nukes against Israel.

Israel-Gaza live updates: Israel retaliates against Iran, US official says

Six months after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, the Israeli military continues its bombardment of the neighboring Gaza Strip.

abcnews.go.com

Israeli missiles have hit a site in Iran.​

The official could not confirm whether Syria and Iraq sites were hit as well.​

The end goal of both Syria and Iran as well as some of their allies is to see the destruction of Israel, not only as a nation but it's people as well.
This is so sad and unfair to the nation of Israel, who wanted to live in peace; willing to try to co-exist with their neighbors.
Praying for peace in the middle east.
Omo.

 

[Chimera]

Iran threatens to use 'weapons it has never used' if Israel retaliate

Israel earlier vowed that it will respond to Iran's unprecedented drone and missile attack, amid fears that the Middle East is teetering on the edge of an all-our war.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (pictured) also warned Israel it will face a 'painful response' if it takes the 'slightest action' in response to his country's attack.
Red emphasis mine.

So, the Iranian president can start an attack but Israel is not allowed to respond aka defend themselves ?
Unhinged madness.


Also from the article :
A UN report in 2007 found that Iran had halted an alleged nuclear weapons program in 2003, and a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2018 said it had found no evidence of nuclear weapons activity after 2009.
Its leaders have long maintained it 'does not need' nuclear weapons and is only enriching uranium for peaceful purposes.

I have little faith in the UN report, and even less in the leader's assertion that the uranium is being used for 'peaceful purposes'.
It's doubtful that anyone outside the country is allowed into various facilities that are actually in operation in Iran -- instead it's possible that reps from the UN and elsewhere may be shown a decoy of empty buildings ?
Omo.

 

[Chimera]

Israel 'strikes Iran' as explosions rock hostile state

Israel has conducted airstrikes on a target in Iran, US officials say.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted soon after reports of the strikes: 'Israel has the ability to conduct strikes against targets inside Iran without entering Iranian air space from aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace.'

This is wise as it keeps Israeli pilots safer.
Imagine their fate if they had to crash land in Iran ?

Also from this link :
A photo which appears to show national pride in Iran's nuke program.

 

[Jillyg]

Briefing Security Council on Reported Israeli Attacks against Iran’s Diplomatic Premises in Syria, Top UN Official Urges Efforts to Prevent Further Escalation | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

In a meeting urgently convened today following reports of Israeli attacks on Iran’s diplomatic premises in Syria, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council that the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected and further escalation must be...

press.un.org

That report/ article was Apr 2nd when all the propaganda was flying.

Nowhere in that article did it ever mention annex of any sort. There is no record (that I can find) if that building ever being an annex to the embassy. It wouldn't be a Consulate building because those aren't in capital cities. Only embassies are.

 

[JennieM]

Israel has carried out airstrikes on Iran, US officials say​

Iranian state media reports that drones have been shot down over Isfahan province in attack on Friday and that the nuclear site there is ‘completely safe’

Israel has carried out airstrikes on Iran, US officials say

Iranian state media reports that drones have been shot down over Isfahan province in attack on Friday and that the nuclear site there is ‘completely safe’

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

45m ago

Summary of the day so far​

It’s 9:40am in Tehran and 9:10am in Tel Aviv. We’re about to hand over to London but first, a summary of what we know so far:

• US officials have confirmed that Israel has carried out airstrikes against Iran as explosions were reported in the sky over the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz.
• Air defence systems over several Iranian cities were activated, state media reported, after the country’s official broadcaster said explosions were heard near the city of Isfahan, home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites. In a post on X, the agency said it continues to monitor the situation very closely and calls for extreme restraint from all sides, stressing that “nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts”.
• Iran’s Fars news agency reported “three explosions” were heard near the Shekari army airbase in the north-west of Isfahan province, while Iran’s space agency spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said “several” drones had been “successfully shot down”.
• Commercial flights including Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting their routes early on Friday morning over western Iran without explanation. Local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.
• Mehr news agency reported that “flights to Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, and airports in the west, northwest and southwest have been suspended.”
• Flight-tracking software showed commercial flights avoiding western Iran, including Isfahan, and skirting Tehran to the north and east.
• Iran’s civil aviation organisation says flight restrictions in several airports have been lifted, according to Tasnim, a semi-official Iranian news agency.
• Iran appeared to downplay the attack, as a senior commander in Iran’s army Siavosh Mihandoust has told the country’s state TV on Friday that no damage was caused. He added that the noise heard overnight in Isfahan was due to air defence systems targeting a “suspicious object”, reports Reuters.

Middle East crisis live: Israel has carried out an attack on Iran, US officials say, after blasts reported near Isfahan

US officials say military operation carried out, without giving further details; Iran state media says air defences fired and airspace closed in some areas

www.theguardian.com

 

[Dotta]

From my country's MSM:

"Iranian authorities have downplayed Israeli retaliation, calling it more of an
'infiltration than an attack'.

There are many indications that Iran will not launch a counterstrike.

Today's events may suggest a successful outcome of the diplomatic efforts of countries interested in events in the Middle East.

Israel will not admit to today's attack.
Such reports come from the Israeli media.

This is part of a broader strategy for Tel Aviv,
which usually does not want to officially confirm its offensive actions.

Although there have been media reports of explosions in attacked parts of Iran,
the reports have been ridiculed by Iranian officials, calling them 'absurd'.

According to the authorities in Tehran,
all drones that violated the country's airspace have been shot down.

Iran even calls today's events 'infiltration',
refusing to attribute any greater significance to them.

One official in Tehran told Reuters:
'The foreign source of the incident has not been confirmed.

We have not received information about any attack from outside and the discussion is towards infiltration rather than attack'.

Israel's limited 'retaliation'
and Tehran's muted response
seem to suggest that there may be a pause in the Israel-Iran conflict.

It is not without reason that Benjamin Netanyahu's phone has been heating up in recent days.

Representatives of
the USA,
Russia,
Great Britain,
France
and Germany
called.

They all had one goal:

to prevent the outbreak of a wider regional conflict in the Middle East."

Iran nie planuje kontruderzenia na Izrael - RMF24.pl

www-rmf24-pl.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[PrairieWind]

Is there any real evidence that Israel has conducted a strike as opposed to Iranian military just getting jumpy and firing anti aircraft missiles that landed causing the explosions?

 

[Eli9]

April 19, 2024

https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-at-a-solo-press-availability-2/

First, the G7 condemned the unprecedented Iranian attack on Israel, unprecedented in scope and scale – scope, because it was a direct attack on Israel from Iran; scale, because it involved more than 300 munitions, including ballistic missiles. We’re committed to Israel’s security. We’re also committed to de-escalating, to trying to bring this tension to a close.

You saw as well, or you’ll see soon in the G7 statement a commitment to hold Iran to account – to account for its destabilizing activities, holding into account by degrading its missile and drone capabilities. And yesterday the United States announced additional sanctions on Iran, targeting UAV programs, the steel industry, companies that are associated with the IRGC, the Ministry of Defence, and its armed forces logistics. The G7 statement makes clear that G7 countries will adopt additional sanctions or other measures in the days ahead.

 

[kittythehare]

‘There wasn’t an Israeli attack on Iran,’ says former adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiations team

Benjamin Netanyahu's ban on Israeli government interviews this week is still in force today.

www.channel4.com