New Delhi: Iran has launched a fresh missile attack on Israel, since a fragile truce took effect in April. The country launched at least 11 missiles towards
Israel, ever since the truce was announced on April 8. This has now put the ongoing peace talks with the US in a very complicated position and it seems that the 2 sides would once again go back to heavy fighting.
The attack came just a day after Tehran had warned Israel after its attack in Lebanon’s capital Beirut. The Israeli attack in the suburbs of the Lebanon capital came without any prior warning and also just days after the US had requested it to stand down.
Following the bombing, Iran closed its western airspace and is prepared for a possible retaliation, reported NDTV. In a statement the country said, “Should these acts of aggression be repeated, the responses will be broader in scope and will encompass all American and Zionist targets throughout the region.”
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) meanwhile, have already vowed to respond. Reacting to the attack on its territory, the IDF said that it had intercepted all the missiles and vowed a forceful response. Military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said that they would act “as soon as the green light is given.”
The attack by Iran once again heightened tensions in the region. Apart from Iran, Syria and Iraq also moved to close either part or all of its airspace as a precautionary measure.
US request to Israel
Following the attack, US President Donald Trump said that he would request Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Tehran, after the attack. He argued that further military action could derail the ongoing peace talks between the US and Iran.
Trump reportedly told Netanyahu that both sides had already exchanged strikes and should avoid another escalation. The US President was quoted by Axios group as saying, “Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.” He added, “We are very close to a final deal with Iran. It is going to be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what is happening now.”
Meanwhile in Israel, air raids sirens were heard in several cities in the northern and central part of the country. Residents in Haifa, Caesarea and Hadera were reportedly asked to seek shelter in preparation for another possible Iranian attack.
Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that “Iran had made a grave mistake.” The Israeli military has vowed retaliation and a “strike on the enemy” as soon as the “green signal is given.”
