Author: Steven Sahiounie

The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned the Israeli regime that Iran’s reaction will be “certainly much harsher” if the regime responds to Iran’s retaliatory operation. “The Zionist regime must stop its past behavior and learn from this [attack]. If the Zionist regime shows any response, our reaction will certainly be much harsher based on this new experience we have gained from their capabilities,” Major General Hossein Salami said on Sunday. “From now on, if the Zionist regime attacks our interests, assets, figures, and citizens at any point, it will face counterattack from within the Islamic…

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has hailed the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s retaliatory attack on the Israeli-occupied territories, saying the hybrid operation taught the occupying regime an unforgettable lesson. In a statement on Sunday, Raeisi said that the drone and missile strike turned a new chapter in the history of Iran’s authority and materialized the sincere promise of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to punish the aggressor. “Last night, your zealous and courageous children in the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, with the cooperation and coordination of all the defense and political sectors of the country, turned…

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has hailed Iran’s retaliatory strikes against the Israeli-occupied territories, praising the unprecedented reprisal operation as a “natural right and a deserved response”. Hamas said in a statement on Sunday, “We in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) consider the military operation carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the occupying Zionist entity as a natural right and a deserved response to the crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus and assassinating a number of Revolutionary Guard leaders there.” Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted Israel late on Saturday with a barrage of drones and…

US President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington would not support retaliatory strikes against Iran after the latter launched a barrage of missiles and drones against the Jewish state over the weekend, Axios reported on Sunday. According to an unnamed senior White House official cited by the outlet, Biden delivered the warning during a phone call on Saturday between the two leaders. Other US officials also noted that Biden and his administration are “highly concerned” that any tit-for-tat action could trigger a regional war with “catastrophic consequences.” Given those apprehensions, Biden reportedly told Netanyahu that Israel had essentially…

The international community cannot afford another war, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, commenting on Iran’s latest drone and missile attack on Israel. “I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East,” he said. “I have repeatedly stressed that neither the region nor the world can afford another war.” Israeli Permanent Representative to the UN Gilad Erdan believes that Iran’s attack violates the UN Charter. At the same time, Iran’s…

Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani arrived in Washington, DC, on Sunday embarking on an official visit at the invitation of US President Joe Biden. Discussions during Al-Sudani’s visit will encompass various aspects of the bilateral relationship between the US and Iraq, including security and defense partnership and economic ties. This emphasis on economic cooperation comes amidst ongoing negotiations between Washington and Baghdad concerning the future of the US-led military coalition in Iraq. As both parties engage in dialogue, the visit presents a significant opportunity to bolster economic collaboration and deepen the longstanding ties between the United States and Iraq. source: Arab…

The UN Security Council will convene for an emergency session on Sunday, April 14, to discuss Iran’s recent attack on Israel, the permanent mission of Malta, who holds the rotating UN Security Council presidency this month, said. The mission is expected to take place at 11:00 p.m. Moscow time (8:00 p.m. GMT). Earlier, Israel’s permanent envoy to the UN said he had requested an extraordinary meeting of the council in connection with the attack. “I called on the Council to hold an emergency meeting and demanded that they condemn Iran’s attack on Israel,” the diplomat said on the X social…

The special naval forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have seized Israel-linked MSC Aries container ship near the Strait of Hormuz, official news agency IRNA reports. The ship was impounded by the Sepah Navy Special Force (SNSF) in a heliborne operation and rappelling of forces on the ship’s deck, the agency said Saturday. “The ship has now been directed towards the territorial waters of our country,” IRNA said. The Portuguese-flagged ship, operated by Zodiac Maritime, is owned by Israeli real estate, energy, technology and shipping magnate Eyal Ofer, it added. Zodiac Maritime is part of the Israeli billionaire’s Zodiac Group. A video released by IRGC…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is prepared for a “direct attack from Iran”. “Our defence systems are deployed; we are prepared for any scenario, both in defence and attack,” he said in a televised statement, adding that Israel had the backing of the United States and “many” countries. Source: AlJazeera

Iraq’s Transport Ministry has announced that the country’s airspace is now closed. The management of Erbil International Airport also confirmed in a press statement that the decision to close Iraqi airspace also included the Kurdish region of Iraq. Source: AlJazeera