Won’t Vow Immediate Retaliation To Israel’s Airstrikes, Says Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei

Tehran:  After Israel’s airstrike last week, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly refrained from vowing immediate retaliation to the attack. But, he had emphasized that the attack against the Islamic nation should not be “exaggerated or downplayed”, according to a BBC report.

Meanwhile, Egypt—which is acting as a key mediator amid Israel’s war against Hamas—has proposed a two-day ceasefire in Gaza for the release of four hostages. Earlier, the talks of phased cease-fire had failed multiple times because of Hamas’s precondition of the removal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Israel has been carrying out airstrikes in Gaza and Iran, leading to an escalation in the Middle East tension. Here’s a few developments in this regard:

• Iran dubbed Israel’s strikes as ‘acts of aggression’ and a ‘blatant violation of international law,’ reported Reuters.
• The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and claimed that the ‘retaliatory strikes’ were a ‘blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.’
• The UN Security Council was likely to hold an emergency meeting at Iran’s request.
• The latest airstrike by Israel against Iran reportedly targeted air defence installations, which protected crucial oil and gas facilities in the country.
• Israel had carried out ‘precise drone strikes to target air defence systems. Israel also reportedly targeted military sites linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile production.
• Israel’s operation in Gaza may see another truce as Egypt proposed a two-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas during which four hostages held in Gaza would be freed. There was no immediate response from Israel or Hamas as the latest talks were expected in Qatar, another key mediator, reported AP.