Just a day after Iran retaliated against Israel by launching a barrage of missile attacks on Tel Aviv, following the killing of top Hezbollah leadership by the Zionist state, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to find ways to prevent further escalation in the volatile Middle East.
The recent bloodshed between the belligerent factions in the region has brought tensions to a critical point, threatening to erupt into a full-scale conflict in the tinderbox environment of West Asia.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has once again called for an immediate ceasefire, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Iran’s attack on Israel, affirming Britain’s steadfast support for Israel’s defense. The British PM urged Iranian officials to cease backing proxies that target the Zionist state.
Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden also pledged unwavering support for Israel, vowing to stand by the nation regardless of the circumstances.
In a dramatic escalation, Iran unleashed a salvo of ballistic missiles on Israel, avenging the brutal campaign against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon and the assassinations of its leaders, including that of Hamas.
The air was pierced with alarm sirens throughout Israel, and explosions echoed in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley, compelling citizens to rush into bomb shelters. The tension was palpable as state television reporters were forced to lie flat on the ground during their live broadcasts.
Reuters journalists captured the moment of defense as missiles were intercepted mid-air in the skies of neighboring Jordan. According to Israeli media, the offensive was massive, with estimates as high as 100 missiles fired.
Roughly an hour later, a sense of relief came over the nation as the military announced an end to the immediate threat, stating, ‘it was decided that it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas across the country,’ after a ‘large number’ of Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted.
Additional reports estimate that between 150 and 200 missiles were launched in this formidable attack.
This incident marks Iran’s second attack on Israel, following a missile and drone strike in April in retaliation for a deadly Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
In response, Israel has pledged retribution, with an army spokesperson asserting that a response will come ‘at the time and place of its choosing.’