Author: Steven Sahiounie

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

A Palestinian father-of-seven Saturday evening died in Israeli custody, according to the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission (PAC) and the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS). They said in a joint press release that 59-year-old Abdul-Rahim Abdul-Karim Amer, a resident of the city of Qalqilya, died in the Israeli Hadarim prison, and described him as another Palestinian worker who died due to Israeli repression, torture and detention. There is no clear information yet on the circumstances surrounding the death of Amer, who along with his son were looking for employment opportunities when they were detained by the Israeli occupation forces from Tira city in Israel…

Only a day after France’s Foreign Minister said that pressure, and possibly sanctions, must be implemented on “Israel” to open crossings and allow the passage of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, Stephane Sejourne has retreated in a session before Parliament. Speaking with RFI radio and France 24, Stephane Sejourne said, “There must be levers of influence and there are multiple levers, going up to sanctions to let humanitarian aid cross checkpoints.” “France was one of the first countries to propose European Union sanctions on Israeli settlers who are committing acts of violence in the West Bank. We will continue if needed to obtain the opening…

Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against the occupied territories in response to the Israeli regime’s terrorist attack of April 1 against the consular section of the Islamic Republic’s Embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus, reports say. The strikes were launched on Saturday night, with some reports saying that the Islamic Republic launched a number of attack drones towards the occupied territories. Iran has not officially acknowledged retaliatory strikes yet. Reuters news agency reported that the Islamic Republic has not yet launched missiles in its retaliatory military action against the occupying regime, adding that there is likelihood of it targeting the…

Israel will “pay the price” for its oppression in Gaza, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas. In a phone call with Abbas, Erdogan said: “All means must be mobilized for a cease-fire in Gaza, including (the implementation of the) UN Security Council resolution,” according to Türkiye’s Communications Director Fahrettin Altun. “No matter what, we will continue to stand tall against Israel’s barbaric attacks on Gaza, and Israel will surely pay the price for this tyranny,” Altun quoted Erdogan as saying. Erdogan also underlined the necessity for unity among all Palestinian groups and stressed the importance…