Israel at war: Israel launches retaliatory strike against Iran

US officials confirm Washington was warned on Thursday Jerusalem would retaliate for Iran's weekend attack within 48 hours; Australians urged to leave Israel. IDF airstrikes have also targeted Syrian army positions.

Anne Barrowclough

less than 2 min read

April 19, 2024 - 12:45PM

Explosions have been reported in southern Iran, Syria and Iraq.

Welcome to The Australian's rolling coverage of Israel's conflict with Iran, as US officials confirm an Israeli strike.

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Israel’s right to hit back at Iran

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US ‘not involved in any offensive operation’: Blinken

Agency writers

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday refused to comment on reports of an attack by Israel on Iran, beyond saying Washington was “not involved in any offensive operation”.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with G7 counterparts in Italy, he declined to answer repeated questions about explosions in Iran, and reports that Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes.

“I’m not going to speak to these reported events… All I can say is for our part and for all the members of the G7 our focus is on de-escalation”, Mr Blinken told a press conference on the island of Capri.

“The US has not been involved in any offensive operation,” he said. Speaking to reporters earlier, G7 host Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister of Italy, said Washington had been informed in advance of the strikes, without giving details.

“The United States were informed at the last moment,” he said, adding that “it was just information” passed on — without saying who by.

The reports dominated the G7 Friday, with Mr Tajani forced to change the agenda, but little public information emerged.

In its final statement, the Group of Seven ministers said: “In light of reports of strikes on April 19th, we urge all parties to work to prevent further escalation. The G7 will continue to work to this end.” Israel had warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel almost a week ago, in retaliation for a deadly strike – which Tehran blamed on its foe – that levelled Iran’s consular annex at its embassy in Syria.

AFP

UK calls for 'calm heads' amid rising tension

Agency writers

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Friday he wants to see “calm heads prevail” in the Middle East, following reports that Israel carried out a retaliatory strike on Iran.

“Significant escalation is not in anyone’s interest,” he said during questions after delivering an unrelated speech, adding: “What we want to see is calm heads prevail across the region.”

More to come.

AFP

G7 countries to meet after Iran strikes

Jacquelin Magnay

G7 countries are currently meeting to respond to Israel's attack on Iran.

UK foreign secretary David Cameron was encouraging a further deescalation of tensions, the Work and Pensions minister Mel Stride told Sky News.

“We accept that Israel has the absolute right to defend itself, and indeed, we were working with Israel and other allies to head off that attack last weekend that Iran made upon Israel,” Mr Stride said.

“At the same time, though, we do think that de-escalation is absolutely key now. And our message to all in the region, including Israel, is that de-escalation is really important.”

“The foreign secretary currently is speaking with his G7 counterparts, so they will be very much focused on exactly that.”

China promises 'constructive de-escalation role'

Agency writers

China said Friday that it will “continue to play a constructive role to de-escalate” tensions in the Middle East after Iranian media reported explosions heard near the city of Isfahan and US media quoted officials saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival.

“China opposes any actions that further escalate tensions and will continue to play a constructive role to de-escalate the situation,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

Air defence systems over several Iranian cities were activated on Friday, state media reported, after the country’s official broadcaster said explosions were heard near Isfahan.

Israel had previously warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel almost a week ago, in retaliation for a deadly strike — which Tehran blamed on its foe — that levelled Iran’s consular annex at its embassy in Syria.

Fears of a major regional spillover from the Gaza war have since soared. China is a close partner of Iran, its largest trade partner, and a top buyer of its sanctioned oil.

The United States has repeatedly made public appeals for China to use its influence over Tehran to manage tensions in the region, which are currently turbocharged over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Beijing’s top diplomat Wang Yi held talks with his Iranian counterpart this week, with state media reporting that Tehran had said it was “willing to exercise restraint” after its first-ever attack on Israel’s territory.

China, historically sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, has been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.

Oman, which has long mediated between Tehran and the West, also condemned an “Israeli attack”.

Oman “condemns the Israeli attack this morning on Isfahan… it also condemns and denounces Israel’s repeated military attacks in the region”, said a foreign ministry statement released on X, formerly Twitter.

AFP

'Red line' crossed by Israel and Iran: former diplomat

Jacquelin Magnay

A senior former diplomat warned that a “red line” has been crossed by both Israel and Iran by directly attacking each other’s country and that tensions "will not go away”.

Analysts have been trying to ascertain if the short “warning shot” foray by Israel at the military base near Isfahan, where a nuclear facility is also housed, has now calmed tensions between the two long time enemies.

Sir Mark Lyall Grant, a former United Kingdom's National Security Adviser and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations told British radio LBC said both sides wanted to have the last word.

But he was heartened that the Israel strike was “very limited” and the Iranian response to it has been “de-escalatory” which are encouraging steps that this stage of the tit-for-tit scenario may be paused or coming to an end.

Sir Mark said Israel had been given advice from the United States and the United Kingdom to not ratchet up any response and “it looks like Israel listened to that advice”.

He said the worst case scenario may be that the Israel response was not the end and their attack on Friday on a target 1200 miles away from Tel Aviv was a warning shot and a way to assess Iran’s capabilities.

“The negative view is that Israel was testing Iran’s response, it is not the end.. see what Iranian response will be and are planning bigger attack later, that’s the worse case scenario. Or Iranian hawks saying Iran has to do some retaliatory strike now against Israel.’’

'Avoid spiral of violence': Australian government

Ben Packham

The Albanese government says it fears Israel’s strike on Iran will unleash further hostilities, urging the nations to “step back to avoid a further spiral of violence”.

“Australia remains extremely concerned about the potential for miscalculation and further escalation of conflict in the region,” Acting Foreign Minister Katy Gallagher said.

“This is in no one’s interests. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and step back to avoid a further spiral of violence.

“Australia will continue working with partners to try to reduce tensions and prevent further regional spillover.”

The government has added fresh warnings to its Iran travel advice.

“There have been reports of explosions across some locations in Iran and the Middle East,” SmartTraveller warns.

“Regional tensions are high, and the security situation could deteriorate quickly with little or no notice.

“This may also result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and diversions, and other travel disruptions.”

Its advice on Israel and the Palestinian Territories was also updated, warning of heightened military threats and the prospects of a rapid deterioration in the security situation.

'No reports': Iran media dismiss Israel attack

Agency writers

Iranian media on Friday dismissed that Iran had been attacked from abroad after several drones were shot down and explosions heard near the central city of Isfahan.

“There are no reports of an attack from abroad against Isfahan or any other part of Iran,” Tasnim news agency said, citing “informed sources”.

More to come.

Atomic Agency says no nuclear sites damaged

Jacquelin Magnay

The International Atomic Energy Agency said there had been no damage to any of Iran’s nuclear sites following the Israeli attack on Friday.Director general Rafael Grossi called for “extreme restraint” and emphasised that nuclear facilities shouldn’t be a military target.

In a tweet the IAEA said: “The IEAE can confirm that there is no damage to #Iran’s nuclear sites. DG

@rafaelmgrossi continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. IAEA is monitoring the situation very closely.

Flydubai cancels flights into Iran

Agency writers

Dubai’s flydubai airline cancelled flights to Iran on Friday after receiving an official alert, a statement said.

“In line with the issued NOTAM (notice to air missions), our flights to Iran today have been cancelled,” said the statement sent to AFP.

One flight which had already departed for Tehran returned to Dubai after the Iranian capital’s airport was closed, it added.

Flights were suspended across swathes of Iran as Iranian state media reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan.

Flight-tracking software showed commercial flights avoiding western Iran, including Isfahan, and skirting Tehran to the north and east.

There was no immediate comment from Dubai’s state-owned Emirates airline, flydubai’s sister carrier, which was operating several of the planes.

Emirates and flydubai have experienced serious disruption this week after record rainfall caused more than 1,000 flight cancellations at Dubai airport, one of the world’s busiest air hubs.

AFP

Israeli strikes target Syrian army position

Agency writers

Israeli strikes on Friday targeted a Syrian army position in the country’s south, a war monitor said, as US media reported Israel had carried out hits on its arch-rival Iran.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the strikes, which he attributed to Israel, “targeted a radar installation of the Syrian army” between the provinces of Sweida and Daraa provinces.

More to come.

AFP

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