Israel, Iran edge closer to all-out war as military confrontation intensifies
by The Associated Press, https://www.facebook.com/, https://www.facebook.com/BusinessMirror/ · BusinessMirror- The Associated Press
- October 2, 2024
- 3 minute read
The Middle East moved closer to a long-feared regional war the day after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel and Israel said it began limited ground incursions into Lebanon targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.
Israel said it intercepted many of the missiles, and officials in Washington said US destroyers assisted in Israel’s defense. Iran said most of its missiles hit their targets. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed late Tuesday to retaliate against Iran, which he said “made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it.” An Iranian commander threatened wider strikes on infrastructure if Israel retaliates against Iran’s territory.
The United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting for Wednesday to address the spiraling conflict.
Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire across the Lebanon border almost daily since October 8, the day after Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel declared war on the militant group in the Gaza Strip in response. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory, and just over half the dead have been women and children, according to local health officials.
Iran’s foreign minister claims the ballistic missile attack on Israel was an act of self-defense.
Abbas Araghchi made the comments in a television interview on Wednesday in Tehran.
“We sent a message to the American side through the Swiss Embassy suggesting them not to get involved in the story,” Araghchi said. “We will confront and answer any third party that enters any operation against us in support of the Zionist regime and we will have a crushing response.”
He also reiterated that Iran’s response to Israel will be “harsher” if Israel attacks Iran in response.
Top Iranian commander warns Israel
Meanwhile, a top Iranian military commander has warned that his country will hit Israel’s infrastructure if it takes any action against its territory.
Iran’s armed forces joint chief of staff Gen. Mohammad Bagheri said Wednesday that the Revolutionary Guard was prepared both defensively and offensively to repeat its missile attack with “multiplied intensity.”
“If the Zionist regime, that has gone insane, is not contained by America and Europe and intends to continue such crimes, or do anything against our sovereignty or territorial integrity, tonight’s operation will be repeated with much higher magnitude and we will hit all their infrastructure,” he said.
Bagheri said Iran avoided targeting Israeli civilians although it was “completely feasible.”
Israeli ambassador’s response
Israel’s UN ambassador says his government will decide when and how to respond to Iran’s barrage of close to 200 ballistic missiles that forced Israel’s 10 million population into bomb shelters. “But I can tell you one thing, it will be noticed,” he said. “It will be painful.”
Danny Danon reacted to a statement from Iran’s U.N. Mission that any new Israeli action would be met with a “crushing response,” saying: “I would not advise Iran to challenge our determination, our capabilities. In the past, we have proved it. We will prove it again.”
“We have no desire for war or escalation, but we cannot sit idly by when our civilians are being attacked in such manner,” the Israeli ambassador said. “Iran used to send boxes but now, when they send almost 200 ballistic missiles, that’s something that I don’t think any other nation in the world will ignore.”
Image credits: AP
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