Israel continues to stay highly vigilant, apprehending a possible retaliatory strike from Iran in response to an Israeli assault on approximately 20 Iranian locations on Saturday morning.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the head of Israel, stated that the Israeli offensive profoundly disrupted Iran’s defensive measures and their missile development capabilities. Netanyahu characterised the offensive as “exact and mighty, meeting all its desired outcomes”.
Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, acknowledged on Sunday that Iran didn’t want conflict yet would reply “appropriately” to the Israeli assault. Iran retains the right to counteract Israel’s “unlawful violence”, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi wrote to United Nations Secretary-General António Gutteras requesting a swift security council meeting.
A New York Times article suggested that Israeli aircrafts targeted air defence systems and radars in Syria and Iraq initially. Once the way was clear, they headed towards Iran – located over 1,600km from Israel – hitting Iran’s air defence structures and institutions that manufacture long-range missiles.
Iran’s most sophisticated S300 air defence batteries and the factories producing the surface-to-surface missiles that had been launched at Israel on October 1st and April 14th, were ruined.
Due to the absence of air defence mechanisms, Iranian military analysts say Iran is susceptible and Israel is now in a position to strike once more when it chooses, having eliminated the main threat to its aircrafts. The impact on the missile factories will impede Iran’s rapid missile manufacturing rate, compelling it to be more frugal with its use of ammunitions for a period.
Some family members of the 1,200 fatalities from the October 7th, 2023, southern Israeli Hamas attack shouted insults at Mr Netanyahu at a commemoration service on Sunday commemorating the first anniversary of the attack according to the Jewish calendar. They aimed chants of “disgraceful” and “my father lost his life” at him.
In a bid to reinitiate ceasefire talks and negotiations for the release of hostages in Gaza, the heads of CIA and Israel’s Mossad held a meeting on Sunday with the prime minister of Qatar in Doha. This followed a month of stagnation. The plan suggested by Egypt consists of a truce for two days and freeing of four captives by Hamas to pave way for discussions on a longer term settlement. Nonetheless, Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that high-ranking officials of Hamas favour a holistic agreement which encompasses the liberation of all captives in Gaza in trade for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners and complete pullout of Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Concerning the situation, Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant expressed though daunting, compromises would be required to ensure captives return to their homes. The weekend brought more turmoil when a truck assault occurred at a bus stop north of Tel Aviv near an Israeli Defence Forces intelligence base. A casualty was reported along with 32 injuries, with six in a grave condition. Much of the victims were pensioners embarking on a day tour, disembarking from a bus at the very stop. The driver, an Israeli Arab, was gunned down on the spot.
Sunday saw a sour turn of events in the Gaza Strip with at least 45 Palestinians losing their lives due to Israeli air assaults, predominantly in the north. Here, Israeli forces have been active against Hamas militants for over three weeks. Post an air raid on residences in Jabalia, more than 20 individuals lost their lives. The battle in Gaza has already accumulated a death toll surpassing 43,000.