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On Tuesday, global leaders called on Iran and Israel to de-escalate tensions following Tehran’s launch of a significant rocket attack against its longstanding adversary.
According to officials in Tehran, the rocket attack, which occurred as Israel initiated a ground offensive against Iranian-aligned Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, was a retaliation for the targeted killings of militant leaders backed by Iran.
For the second time, Iran has directly targeted Israel, having previously executed a missile and drone strike in April as retaliation for an Israeli airstrike that struck the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
In response to the recent missile strikes, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of the United Nations condemned the “growing conflict in the Middle East,” emphasizing the dire consequences of ongoing hostilities.
As Israel faced an expanding conflict with Hezbollah while continuing its struggle against Hamas militants in Gaza, Guterres lamented the “repeated escalations” troubling the region.
“This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.
Read also: Nasrallah: How Israel Deeply Infiltrated Hezbollah Sect
As the attack unfolded, President Joe Biden ordered the US military to “aid Israel’s defence against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles that are targeting Israel”, a White House statement said.
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, declared the assault “utterly indefensible,” calling for a collective denunciation from nations worldwide to reinforce the commitment to maintaining global order and safeguarding human rights.
“Initial reports suggest that Israel, with the active support of the United States and other partners, effectively defeated this attack,” Blinken told reporters.
Israel has vowed to take retaliatory measures in the aftermath of Iran’s offensive, underscoring its resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and deter further aggression.
“This attack will have consequences. We have plans, and we will operate at the place and time we decide,” said Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
The Palestinian Islamist faction, whose October 7 strike catalyzed the current hostilities in Gaza, has lauded Iran’s assault on Israel, reinforcing their solidarity in opposition to Israeli actions.
In a statement, Hamas asserted that the attack was a form of vengeance for the loss of “martyrs,” referencing the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah during a strike in Beirut last Friday and the recent death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July.
