US Rejects Iran’s Pre-Strike Notice; Israel Contemplates Retaliatory Measures
Israeli forces have outlined a spectrum of potential responses to Iran’s recent drone and missile assault, ranging from immediate strikes to a more measured approach. Concurrently, a senior official from the United States has refuted Iran’s assertion that it provided a 72-hour warning prior to the aerial attack.
In brief:
- Iran claims to have given the US 72 hours’ notice before the strike on Israel.
- The US denies receiving any such warning, stating that Tehran only informed them after the attack began.
- Israel is weighing various military options in response to Iran’s unprecedented aggression.
The tension in the Middle East has reached a critical juncture as Iran and Israel engage in retaliatory actions, raising the specter of a wider conflict. On April 13, Iran launched a significant drone and missile assault on Israel following an Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, asserted that Iran had provided neighboring countries and the US, an ally of Israel, with a 72-hour advance notice before the attack. However, a senior official within the Biden administration refuted these claims, affirming that the US had not received any prior warning from Tehran.
Key developments include:
- Turkish, Jordanian, and Iraqi officials corroborated Iran’s assertion of providing advance notice, but the US official contradicted these claims, stating that no warning was received from Iran.
- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have presented a range of response options to the Israeli government, spanning from immediate strikes to a more restrained approach. The Israeli cabinet remains divided over the timing and magnitude of potential retaliation against Iran.
- Israeli military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, emphasized that Israel maintains a heightened state of alertness following the attack, with operational plans for both offensive and defensive measures already approved.
- At the United Nations, Iran’s actions faced widespread condemnation. US Ambassador Robert A. Wood warned of repercussions if Iran targets Israel or the US again. UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward echoed this sentiment, highlighting the risk posed to Jordan and Iraq by Iran’s aggression.
- Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, justified the attack as an act of self-defense, citing Israel’s alleged strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria. He asserted Iran’s reluctance for escalation but warned of retaliatory measures against any perceived threat.
- Israel’s UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, accused Iran of violating international law and urged the Security Council to reimpose sanctions and designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.
US Rejects Iran’s Pre-Strike Notice; Israel Contemplates Retaliatory Measures
In response to escalating tensions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties to exercise restraint and cautioned against further conflict escalation in the region. Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi pledged a robust response to any future aggression against Iran’s interests.
US President Joe Biden has advised Israel to approach any response to Iran’s attack with caution, assuring that the US would not participate in offensive actions against Tehran. The US had previously supported Israel in intercepting drones and missiles fired by Iran, with the Pentagon reporting the destruction of numerous hostile drones and ballistic missiles.