KEY POINTS
- US blocks United Nations from recognizing Palestinian state through full membership
- Tehran downplays Israeli attacks within Iranian territory
- Italian FM Antonio Tajani says Israel gave a last-minute heads-up to US regarding Iran attack
The conflict in the Middle East has reached a new high after the United States confirmed that Israel carried out a strike within Iranian territory. The escalation comes as the Israel-Hamas war rages on, with it entering Day 195 on Friday.
The Middle East is bracing for further escalation of already heated tensions following three explosions near a major military airbase near Isfahan. A U.S. official confirmed to CNN that Israel conducted an airstrike in Iran, but Tehran has yet to identify the source of the strike.
- EU sanctions West Bank settlers who committed 'serious human rights abuses'
- Blinken says Houthi attacks preventing aid deliveries to vulnerable recipients
- IDF assassinates PIJ Nur Al-Shams commander: Local reports
- US sanctions fundraisers for West Bank violent settlers
- US not involved in 'offensive operations' against Iran: Blinken
- Protesters calling for hostages' release block Israel's Highway 1
- Lufthansa cancels Israel, Iraq flights through Saturday
- US official says Washington unsurprised by Israeli strike in Iran: Report
- Ambulances have entered the bombed area in Iran: Arab media
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was committed to deescalating the situation in the region after Iran rained drones and missiles toward Israel on Saturday, prompting the Israeli airstrike earlier Friday.
In the Israeli-Lebanese border where fire exchanges have been ongoing since the war in Gaza started, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it attacked a military structure of the Iran-backed Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Friday morning warned commercial vessels across Middle Eastern waters to report any drone activity in the area after it was made aware of media reports "of an Israeli military strike against Iran."
The intense situation in the Middle East stems from decades of fighting in the Israel-Palestine conflict that ultimately blew up on Oct. 7, when Iranian-backed Hamas militants launched a shock attack in Israel, killing over a thousand people and dragging some 252 hostages into the Gaza Strip.
The live update has ended.
Ambulances enter bombed area in Iran: Arab report
Ambulances were seen entering the area that was struck by an Israeli strike Friday, Sky News in Arabic reported, citing Iranian sources.
Israel has yet to officially confirm it struck inside Iran, but multiple senior U.S. officials have confirmed the attack to American news outlets.
US official says Washington 'not surprised' by Israeli retaliation: Report
The U.S. government was "not surprised" by Israel's strike inside Iran Friday, Axios reported, citing a senior U.S. official.
The retaliatory strike came after Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles toward Israel Saturday, which were largely intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the U.S. and UK.
Israel, Iran ready to deescalate: Analysts
Israel and Iran are ready to de-escalate tensions for now, analysts predicted, following the Israeli strike inside Iran Friday. Still, the situation remains tense since Isfahan, where blasts were reported, is known for its key atomic installations.
Read the full story here.
Hostages' families block Highway 1
The loved ones and supporters of some 130 hostages still being held in Gaza have staged a demonstration that blocked a main highway toward Jerusalem Friday, Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported. They called for a deal to free the hostages, saying the abductees are "running out of time."
Hostages' families have been calling for the release of the abductees in multiple protests across the country. They have also questioned the Netanyahu government's handling of ceasefire talks that have since stalled due to escalated tensions in the region.
"אוזל להם הזמן - עסקה על השולחן": משפחות חטופים חוסמות את כביש 1 לכיוון ירושלים@NOFARMOS pic.twitter.com/G7F31b3Id9
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) April 19, 2024
US not involved in offensive actions against Iran: Blinken
The U.S. "has not been involved in any offensive operations" against Iran, Blinken said Friday after being pressed regarding the reported Israeli attack in Iran.
The "United States has not been involved in any offensive operations".
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 19, 2024
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is asked about US involvement in Israel's attack on Iran.
The G7 is 'focused on de-escalating tensions,' he adds.https://t.co/L5Vx21l4Bz
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 pic.twitter.com/kAmbs0WtpK
This comes after a U.S. official confirmed to CNN that Israel did carry out a strike inside Iranian territory early Friday.
US sanctions West bank settlers' violence fundraisers
The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday sanctioned two entities "for their roles in establishing fundraising campaigns on behalf of" two "violent extremists" which the department previously sanctioned due to violence in the West Bank.
"Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich generated tens of thousands of dollars for extremists responsible for destroying property, assaulting civilians, and violence against Palestinians," said Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.
PIJ battalion commander assassinated by IDF: Reports
The commander of a battalion in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) was killed by Israeli forces in the Nur al-Shams area in the West Bank Friday, local Channel 12 reported, citing a Palestinian report.
The Jerusalem Post identified the battalion commander as Abu Shujaiya.
The Palestinian faction, a Hamas ally, has yet to deny or confirm the reports.
Palestinian reports on Friday said that IDF forces killed "Abu Shujaiya," the leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad's local battalion in the West Bank refugee camp of Nur Shams, during an operation of the IDF and Border Police that began there yesterday.https://t.co/JB9yOvST4v
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) April 19, 2024
Houthi attacks preventing aid from reaching destinations: Blinken
The U.S. Secretary of State on Friday said attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels against merchant ships in the Red Sea "are preventing food and medicine from reaching vulnerable populations."
He said the G7 members have reaffirmed their commitment to defending navigation freedom in the area.
Attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships in the Red Sea are preventing food and medicine from reaching vulnerable populations.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 19, 2024
My G7 counterparts and I reaffirmed our commitment to defending freedom of navigation.
EU sanctions West Bank settlers for 'serious human rights abuses'
The European Union on Friday announced new sanctions on four individuals and two entities who are "responsible for serious human rights abuses against Palestinians, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and for violating property rights, privacy, and family life of Palestinians in the territory.
US told G7 that it received a 'last minute' heads up from Israel regarding Iran attack: Italian FM
Tajani on Friday said Washington informed G7 foreign ministers that it was "informed at the last minute" by Israel regarding the strike in Iran earlier in the day. He clarified that "there was no sharing of the attack by the U.S." and it was "a mere information," as per AP.
Iran indicates it won't retaliate, downplays Israeli attack
The Iranian government on Friday downplayed what U.S. officials said was an Israeli airstrike in Isfahan, central Iran earlier in the day. A senior Iranian official also told Reuters that so far, there were no plans to respond to Israel after the strike.
"The foreign source of the incident has not been confirmed. We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," the official said.
For some geopolitical experts, the statement could be a signal that Iran is choosing to back down from escalating tensions further.
US effectively blocks Palestinian state recognition at UN
The United States has stopped the United Nations from technically recognizing Palestinian statehood by vetoing a draft resolution that proposed Palestine be admitted for a full membership into the world body.
Majority of the council members voted in favor of the draft text, while Britain and Switzerland abstained. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Washington's move was "unfair, unethical, and unjustified."
"The United States continues to strongly support a two-state solution. This vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood, but instead is an acknowledgement that it will only come from direct negotiations between the parties," said deputy U.S. ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said.
UKMTO issues 72-hour security notice in Middle East seas
The UKMTO on Friday requested commercial ships across Middle Eastern waters to report "any suspicious activity, and UAS (unmanned aircraft system) activity" as the British maritime activity monitor said it was made aware of "media reports of an Israeli military strike against Iran."
It said merchant vessels transiting the Arabian Gulf and the Western Indian Ocean may observe increased drone activity in the region. The notice is valid for 72 hours, and another update will be released should "increased threat" endure.
UKMTO ADVISORY SECURITY NOTIFICATIONhttps://t.co/K4BU9BXk05#MaritimrSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/UcaQVuBvRj
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) April 19, 2024
Israel strikes Hezbollah building in southern Lebanon
An Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft attacked a building in the Ayta ash-Shab area in southern Lebanon Friday after it was determined that Hezbollah terrorists were staying in the said facility, the IDF said.
תצפיתניות מגדוד 869 זיהו לפני זמן קצר מחבלים ששהו במבנה צבאי של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב עייתא א-שעב שבדרום לבנון,
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) April 19, 2024
כלי טיס של חיל האוויר תקפו את המבנה ואת המחבלים ששהו בו pic.twitter.com/OVZkB867qf
G7 committed to deescalating Middle East tensions: Blinken
The Group of 7 (G7), which includes some of the world's largest economies, is "committed to Israel's security" but it was also "committed to de-escalating" tensions in the Middle East.
He also reiterated that even as Israel-Iran tensions have become the focus of the world in recent days, the G7 remains "intensely focused on Gaza," where the Israel-Hamas war rages on more than six months since it started.
US official tells CNN Israel carried out Iran strike
A U.S. official has confirmed to CNN that Israel carried out a military strike within Iran earlier Friday, which could potentially drive tensions in the region to a more dangerous high.
Iranian state media reported three explosions in Isfahan, a central province. The explosions triggered air defense systems in several Iranian cities, as per state media.
