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The UN Security Council convenes an emergency meeting on Monday at Iran’s request
The UN Security Council (UNSC) will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Iran’s request following Israel’s deadly missile strikes in retaliation for an October 1 attack by Tehran.
The Swiss presidency of the UNSC said Sunday that the meeting would take place following the request by Iran, supported by Algeria, China and Russia. On Saturday, Israel carried out air strikes against military sites in Iran in response to Tehran’s missile attack on October 1, escalating the tensions in the region.
Israel-Iran Tensions
This latest attack itself was a retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed militant leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander. At least four Iranian soldiers were killed in the attack which Iran said caused “limited damage” to a few radar systems.
The Israeli military has warned Tehran against responding. Iranian officials and media have since downplayed the Israeli strikes, highlighting Iran’s defensive capabilities but issued no vows of a direct response.
‘Defending their land’
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian paid tribute to the killed soldiers, hailing their efforts in “defending their land without fear.” It was retaliation for Iran’s Oct. 1 attack on Israel with about 200 ballistic missiles, and Israel warned its heavily armed arch-foe not to hit back after the latest strike.
Iran condemned the Israeli raid and its foreign ministry said Iran was “entitled and obligated” to defend itself. But it added that it “recognises its responsibilities towards regional peace and security,” a more conciliatory statement than after previous bouts of escalation.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have grown rapidly since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, raising fears of a wider regional conflict that could drag in global powers and imperil world energy supplies. Worsening conflict in Lebanon, where Israel is waging an intense campaign against Iran’s main regional ally Hezbollah to stop it firing rockets into northern Israel, has raised the temperature further.
(With agency inputs)
- Location :
New York, United States of America (USA)