Limited strike but inside Iranian territory. This is what Israel has decided in retaliation for the Iranian attack, according to US officials. A senior US official tells ABC News that the response expected will be limited. The Israelis have told the US they will respond with “special care”.
The successive war cabinets seem to have settled on the type of blow, but not the time of the attack. This was hinted at by the head of the armed forces, Herzi Halevi, speaking to an Israeli battalion, as well as the army representative to journalists, while showing one of the missiles launched by Iran in the attack.
Images from the command center of Israeli forces on the night of the Iranian attack were released by the Israeli military as Benjamin Netanyahu promised victory against Iran on all fronts during a visit to Israeli soldiers. “Iran is behind Hamas, behind Hezbollah and others, but we are determined to defeat and defend ourselves on all fronts,” he said.
The diplomatic marathon of the United States continues
The diplomatic marathon of the United States to avoid a generalized conflict continues, and all efforts are currently focused on persuading Israel to limit the scope of its response and Iran – through other channels – not to react.
A new package of sanctions against Iran is expected to be announced soon in coordination with the G7, but at the same time, Washington is placing special emphasis on further strengthening and upgrading the air defense and early warning systems in the wider region so that Israel, its allies, is prepared. of America and American forces in the region just in case.
The Pentagon and the Army’s Central Command in the Middle East are working out all the possible scenarios and their implications in the day after the Israeli response, which appears to be delayed due to strong American pressure.
Tehran is preparing for retaliation
Tehran is preparing for the possibility of Israeli retaliation. The Iranian navy escorts Iranian merchant ships in the Red Sea. While with a tough response to any aggressive action received by Israel, the Iranian president warned during a military parade for the day of the armed forces that the country celebrates.
The United States and the European Union are preparing to respond to Iran’s attack on Israel with new sanctions against Iran in an attempt to prevent Israeli retaliation that could lead to a regional conflict. The White House clarified that these sanctions will include Tehran’s program to develop drones and missiles.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers Israel to be solely responsible for the escalation of tension in the Middle East. “Israel violated International Law and the Vienna Convention, striking Iran’s diplomatic mission in Damascus was the final straw,” he said.
At the same time, Israeli shelling is raging throughout the Palestinian enclave. Palestinians speak of bloody attacks on a refugee camp in central Gaza, but also in Rafah in the south. While the situation in the West Bank remains unsettled.
Extraordinary Summit in Brussels – Iranian attacks, Turkey and EU competitiveness on the table
Strengthening the competitiveness of the EU is the main issue on the agenda of the Extraordinary Summit which will take place in Brussels on 17 and 18 April according to the invitation letter of the President of the European Council Charles Michel to the leaders.
After the developments and the Iranian attacks in the Middle East, as Charles Michel points out, the European Council must condemn them but also send a message of unity “urging all parties to show the maximum possible restraint, to respect international law and to avoid actions that may increase tensions. We must also address the situation in Lebanon, recognizing the difficult circumstances it faces and reiterating our strong support at this critical time.” He stresses that the latest events have “exacerbated an already extremely volatile situation in the region”.
So today, the leaders are expected to condemn Saturday’s attacks, while at the same time calling for restraint on all sides. However, we should not expect anything in relation to sanctions. Discussions are ongoing on restrictive measures against individuals, entities and Iran’s unmanned vehicle program.
A while ago also according to the report, the last changes were made in the draft conclusions in relation to Turkey. There are some references to the positive agenda and it is characteristically stated that Turkey’s constructive engagement will contribute to the promotion of various areas of cooperation.
Ursula von der Leyen: It is time for a European awakening on defense and security
The Iranian attacks against Israel should not be dealt with “in isolation”, said the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at the European Defense and Security Summit, pointing out that this is the latest “sample of intentions of the new union of authoritarians”. He added that “it is time for the European awakening for defense and security. Because so much is at stake, our freedom and prosperity depend on our security, and we must align our actions with this changing security environment.” Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the EU must start working on the future of its security architecture.
Member states, he said, will always be responsible for their troops and all decisions related to them, “but Europe also has tools and responsibilities in areas that are critical to our defense from the single market to research, from innovation to industry and much more,” he added.
“We must use Europe’s combined economic, structural and political strength where it can have the greatest impact. Because Europe’s defense is the duty of all of Europe – with EU member states and institutions working closely together,” he said. Finally, the President of the Commission noted that “as we strengthen our own dominance in the field of defense, industry and key technologies, we will also strengthen our core cooperation with NATO. A more dominant, prepared and financed European defense will only serve to make NATO stronger.”
The positions of Greece in the extraordinary Synod
Awaiting the arrival of the prime minister for the extraordinary session of the European Council with the fragile balances in the Middle East dominating and the concern for stability and security in the wider region intensifying, Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to repeat the unequivocal condemnation of our country for the attacks by Iran against Israel, pointing out that all sides must show restraint to avoid a dangerous further escalation.
On the menu of the leaders’ dinner and EU relations. – Turkey with the Greek position being in favor of a mutually beneficial relationship, that is, Greece says yes to positive steps on the condition that Turkey shows a willingness to cooperate. The basis of the discussion, as Athens clarifies, is the relevant decisions of the European Council which will underline that any steps must be taken gradually, proportionally and reversible. At the same time, Greece, in coordination with the Republic of Cyprus, supports the importance of resuming talks and progress on the Cyprus issue for the improvement of Euro-Turkish cooperation.
In the field of defense, the prime minister has since the previous European Council insisted on the need to issue a Eurobond to finance the initiatives related to common defense, however no decisions are expected as the debate on the way and the means by which the European Union will be strengthened defense and in the second year the financial tools to achieve the goals that will be set.
With regard to the issue of competitiveness, the prime minister is expected to emphasize, as conveyed by his colleagues, that at the end of the day in the debate on improving the competitiveness of the EU, this means an improvement in the quality of life of citizens, i.e. a higher available income for all.
Source: ertnews
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