The Iranian government has reiterated that it does not want any further escalation. Meanwhile, EU diplomat Borrell warns of a “regional war”. The news ticker.
Update from April 18, 7:15 p.m.:
For the first time since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, aid supplies have passed through the Erez border crossing newly opened by Israel. The
dpa
reported this
, citing the World Food Program (WFP). During the transport, 25 trucks brought a total of 404 tons of food to the north of the Gaza Strip. According to the WFP, there is enough food for around 80,000 people.
New sanctions against Iran after attacks on Israel
Update from April 18, 3:55 p.m.:
After Tehran's attack on Israel, the USA and Great Britain have imposed new sanctions against Iran. The US media reports this unanimously. Israel's government had called for a "diplomatic offensive" by its allies against Iran. A counterattack by Israel is currently being planned.
Update from April 18th, 1:45 p.m.:
EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell has warned of a war in the Middle East. “The Middle East is on the brink of a regional war,” the diplomat said before the meeting with the G-7 foreign ministers, according to US broadcaster CNN.
“We cannot escalate, we cannot respond step by step stronger every time until a regional conflict arises,” he warned, referring to the Iranian attack on Israel and the constant threats from the longer term. A war in the Middle East would cause “shock waves throughout the world, but especially in Europe,” he said. Therefore, European politicians must pressure Israel into a limited response to the major Iranian attack.
Iran sends message to USA after attack on Israel: Tehran does not want “expansion of tensions”
Update from April 18, 12:15 p.m.:
According to its foreign minister, Iran has assured the USA that it does not want to further aggravate the situation in the Middle East. Tehran has tried to “make it clear to Washington that we are not looking to escalate tensions in the region,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Thursday in a video released by his ministry upon his arrival in New York, on the occasion of a UN Security Council meeting.
The exchange before and after the Iranian attack on Israel last weekend was aimed at “establishing a correct understanding of Iran’s actions,” explained Amir-Abdollahian. Accordingly, Tehran informed Washington before the attack that the decision to do so was “final”. The communication took place mainly through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, said Amir-Abdollahian. Since Washington does not have a diplomatic mission in Iran, the Swiss head of mission acts as the US representative in Tehran.
Iran-Israel conflict: Baerbock defends tougher course against Tehran
Update from April 18, 11:10 a.m.:
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for a tougher course against Tehran after the Iranian attack on Israel, but also warned against an expansion of the conflict. “Iran must be isolated. And at the same time, there must be no further escalation,” said the Green politician on Thursday on the sidelines of the G7 meeting on the Italian Mediterranean island of Capri. Baerbock added: “We all have a responsibility.”
The minister said that the discussions, which will last until Friday, will also focus on further measures against Iran. “Because of course there must be a response to this unprecedented incident, but there must be no further escalation in the region,” she added. “That would be fatal for people. In Israel, in the West Bank, in Lebanon, throughout the region.”
During Iran's massive attack at the weekend, Israel not only showed that it can defend itself, but also what its strength is - "because other partners support them in such moments, including partners from the region," said Baerbock. This “defensive victory that Israel made clear was a response to Iran that Iran did not expect. And we now need to secure this diplomatically.”
Putin
is portraying himself as a mediator in the
Middle East conflict
Update from April 18, 9:55 a.m.:
Apparently Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin wants to mediate between Israel and Iran amid the escalation in the Middle East. A source close to Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi told the Kuwaiti newspaper
Al-Jarida
. Putin is said to have made the offer in his telephone conversation with Raisi. The Iranian head of state, in turn, is said to have accepted this, but at the same time set conditions and made accusations.
Accordingly, he demanded that Putin convince Israel not to carry out a retaliatory attack against Iranian territory. Raisi is also said to have criticized Russia and accused Russia of allowing Israeli air strikes against Iranian targets on Syrian territory. The airspace in regime-controlled regions of Syria is largely under Russian control. Putin is said to have replied that the attacks in Syria were being allowed to prevent an even greater escalation in the Middle East.
Reaction to attack by Iran: Israel coordinates with USA
Update from April 18, 7:35 a.m.:
According to media reports, Israel has considered a quick response to the Iranian attack last weekend. Israeli broadcaster
Kan
reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after speaking to US President Joe Biden, decided not to implement pre-approved plans for retaliation in the event of an attack.
Diplomacy played a role, a senior official who wished to remain anonymous told the broadcaster. “There will be an answer, but it will be different than what was originally planned.” The US news portal
Axios
and the Israeli news site
Walla News
reported, citing Israeli circles, that the war cabinet is considering it at a meeting on Monday (April 15). to give the green light for attacks, but without ordering them. It was the war cabinet's second meeting since the Iranian attack over the weekend.
According to the
Axios
report, Israel informed the United States on Monday of the decision to wait. Washington had called on its ally to exercise restraint. US broadcaster
ABC News
reported that the Israeli government had twice considered attacks against Iran but failed to implement them.
Israel's planned retaliation against Iran: Apparently only after Passover
Update from April 18, 6:35 a.m.:
It is now clear that Israel will launch a retaliatory strike against Iran. However, when this will take place is still unknown. Now a senior US official told
ABC News
that an Israeli attack against Iran before the end of Passover is unlikely. Passover commemorates the flight of the Israelites from Egypt around 3,000 years ago and runs from April 22nd to 30th.
The official also said that Iran's Revolutionary Guard remains on high alert. Many high-ranking members would be in sanctuaries or underground facilities. In addition to the timing of the attack, it is also unclear whether Israel will attack Iranian territory directly or just pro-Iranian militias in neighboring countries.
Israel rejects EU appeal for peace: Israeli ambassador calls for “change of course” against Iran
Update from April 18th, 5:21 a.m.:
Attack instead of restraint: Israel has clearly rejected the European Union (EU)'s appeal for peace. Instead, Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, called on the EU to "change course" in its policy towards Iran. After the major Iranian attack on his country, Europe must “take a clear stance,” said the ambassador to the
Rheinische Post
. “For example, by listing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. The Revolutionary Guard spreads terror and violence in the Middle East and beyond,” Prosor said. “It’s Europe’s turn. We have seen that it has not been possible to contain the dangers posed by Iran. We need a change of course.”
After attack from Iran: Qatar wants to “re-evaluate” its role as mediator in the Israel war
Update from April 17th, 9:03 p.m.:
Qatar's Prime Minister announced that Qatar's role as a central mediator in talks about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages would be “reassessed”. Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said this at a press conference on Wednesday. The prime minister cited the reason that Qatar “suffered damage” in this role. He did not give any further details.
After Iran attack on Israel: “Call the Revolutionary Guards by their name”
Update from April 17th, 8:20 p.m.:
During German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's visit to Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on Europe to deal more strictly with Iran. “Call the Revolutionary Guards by their name – they are a terrorist organization. And decide on sanctions for the Iranian missile program,” Katz called on the European states.
Update from April 17th, 8:02 p.m.:
For the first time since the port of Ashdod in southern Israel was opened for aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, aid for the coastal area has arrived via the port. The Israeli army announced this on Wednesday evening. The Israeli war cabinet decided at the beginning of April to open the Erez border crossing and temporarily the port of Ashdod to aid deliveries after the USA called for the expansion of humanitarian aid in view of the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip.
Update from April 17th, 7:00 p.m.:
After Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is once again calling on Israel not to respond to the Iranian attacks with a massive counterattack. “It is important for us that this moment is used for further de-escalation in order to strengthen our own position,” said Scholz before the EU summit in Brussels.
Update from April 17th, 6:15 p.m.:
Lebanese media reports on an Israeli air strike in the northeastern Lebanese district of Baalbek. The area, which in the past was considered a Hezbollah stronghold, is around 100 kilometers from the Israeli border. The attack deep in Lebanon comes after a Hezbollah drone strike today that injured 14 soldiers and four civilians.
Baerbock
in
Israel
: Call for
“restraint”
in the conflict with Iran
Update from April 17th, 5:05 p.m.:
In the midst of the conflict with Iran, Annalena Baerbock, the Federal Foreign Minister, encouraged Israel to act carefully and responsibly. “I'm not talking about giving in here. “I’m talking about clever restraint, which is nothing less than strength,” said Baerbock after her conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, at Tel Aviv airport.
Iranian activists call for escalation with Israel to be avoided
Update from April 17th, 3:55 p.m.:
The United Nations Emergency Relief Office (OCHA) has stated that money is urgently needed to supply the population in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This year alone, the OCHA needs billions, as the
dpa
reported. In order to raise the missing funds, the United Nations is now turning to donor countries. They have now been asked to make 3.3 billion dollars (around 2.6 billion euros) available by the end of the year.
After Iran attack: Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warns of attacks on nuclear storage facilities in Iran
Update from April 17th, 1:55 p.m.:
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has warned of attacks on nuclear facilities in the wake of tensions between Israel and Iran. This would be a “terrible mistake.” He called on both sides to “exercise extreme restraint,” the dpa quoted the IAEA chief as saying.
Grossi is about to travel to the country to resume nuclear talks with the Iranian side. Mohammed Eslami, Iran's nuclear chief, described the cooperation with the IAEA as good. “The IAEA chief will also come to Tehran soon to continue the bilateral talks and virtually update them,” Eslami told the Iranian news agency
IRNA
.
Iran warns Israel to respond to drone and missile attack
Update from April 17, 12:30 p.m.:
Hamid Vahedi, brigade admiral of the Iranian Air Force, warned the “enemies of Iran” on the sidelines of the military parade for the “National Day of the Iranian Army” not to make mistakes. The air force could also hit 24 targets with the Russian Sukhoi fighter jet. In this regard, the army is ready for “the order of the commander-in-chief,” wrote the Iranian news agency
IRNA
.
Ministry of Health in Gaza announces death toll
Update from April 17th, 11:45 a.m.:
Several military parades took place in Iran on the occasion of the “National Day of the Iranian Army”. In this context, President Ebrahim Raisi said that the armed forces would stand with the people and defend the security and unity of the country, as well as the principles of the Islamic revolution. This was reported by the Iranian news site
Alalam
.
The Iranian army differs from other armies in its belief in God and trust in divine power. In addition, she is well trained technologically and militarily. The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th also highlighted the weaknesses of the Israeli army.
After Iran's attack on Israel: number of missiles and drones shot down significantly increased
Update from April 17, 11:05 a.m.:
After Iran's large-scale attack on Israel, the number of rockets fired was revised upwards. There was previously talk of around 300 missiles and drones being fired by the country. Now the Israeli defense minister has announced that Iran and its allies are said to have fired more than 500 projectiles. This was reported by the
dpa
. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense confirmed this number on Wednesday (April 17).
Decision made in the war cabinet: Israel strikes back after Iran attack
First report:
Tel Aviv - The Israeli war cabinet, which was proclaimed after the bloody Hamas attack on October 7th, met a total of five times after Iran's major attack on the country. It was about whether and how to respond. The decision was apparently made in the fifth meeting. The war cabinet has decided to strike back,
Kann News
reported.
However, according to Israeli media reports, it is not yet clear when and where the retaliatory strike will take place. An Israeli official told the
Times of Israel
newspaper that retaliation could occur both inside and outside Iran's borders. At the moment they do not want to give any further information “in order to keep Iran in the dark” and make them “nervous”.
Discussions in the Israeli War Cabinet: Strike immediately or wait for international talks
In any case, the War Cabinet meetings were accompanied by heated discussions, as
Kann News
also confirmed. Accordingly, there were ministers who called for an immediate attack against Iran without wasting any more time. Opposition leader Benny Gantz recently expressed the fear that the longer they waited, they would lose international support. On the other hand, there were also ministers at the Cabinet meetings who wanted to wait for the results of international discussions.
USA
wants to prevent
further
escalation in the Middle East
Most recently, the Israeli broadcaster
Reshet 13
reported that the US would offer Israel gifts to deter the country from retaliating against Iran and thus prevent further escalation in the Middle East. This includes more help with a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia and the further development of the regional alliance that repelled the Iranian attack. For Israel, these points may actually be worthwhile. This should make it easy to isolate Iran even more in the region.
Meanwhile, the USA apparently fears a new Iranian attack that could hit Israel if the country decides to retaliate. In recent days, Iran has threatened a stronger attack if Israel responds. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told representatives of American Jewish society at a meeting that it was not in Israel's interest to respond to Iran's attack and launch a counterattack. This was reported by the news portal
Axios
. Accordingly, Blinken said he understood that Israel wanted to respond and also reiterated that the decision rested with Israel. “We only give our best advice,” he emphasized, according to participants.
Middle East War
: The situation at the
front
Our interactive maps provide a daily overview of the situation in the Gaza Strip after Israel's ground offensive began.