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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a second war cabinet meeting yesterday to debate how to respond to Iran’s retaliatory attack, a government source told Reuters. Israeli senior military officer Herzi Halevi signaled yesterday that “missiles into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response,” in a carefully choreographed set piece, standing in front of an F-35 fighter jet on one of the air bases Iran targeted. While officials in the Arab world and the West are still working overtime to try to tamp things down, with the United States, the European Union, Germany, France and the UK all urging Israel to hold back.
Iran is not looking to escalate tensions further in the region following Saturday’s strike against Israel,Tasnim reported yesterday, citing statements by Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani. The attack was “necessary and proportional,” Kanaani said, adding that while Iran remains committed to the UN Charter it will retaliate against aggressors.
Britain has urged Israel not to hit back at Iran, Reuters reports, citing statements by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to Sky News. Iran’s attack was a failure, and a retaliation by Israel will only serve to raise tensions in the region, Cameron said. The UK is also working with its allies to impose further sanctions on Iran, he added.
Aviation disruptions continue: Global airlines continue to grapple with a host of cancellations and resumptions as air travel remains disrupted in the wake of the strikes. A list of diversions, cancellations and anticipated resumptions can be found here. Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon reopened airspace on Sunday, but international air routes remain affected, Reuters reports.
Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport resumed flight operations early Monday morning at 5:30 am, IRNA reports, citing the airport’s public relations office. Flight restrictions have been lifted across all of Iran’s airports, the public relations office added.
ON THE MARITIME FRONT-
Iran says that the MSC Aries was seized due to it “violating maritime laws,” adding that the vessel was undoubtedly linked to Israel, Reuters reports, citing statements by Iran’s foreign ministry. “The vessel was diverted into Iran’s territorial waters as a result of violating maritime laws and not answering calls made by Iranian authorities,” the newswire cites ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani as saying. MSC had leased the vessel from Gortal Shipping, which is affiliated with Zodiac Maritime, an outfit that is partly owned by Israeli entrepreneur Eyal Ofer, the newswire said. MSC is reportedly working with Iranian authorities to secure the release of the vessel and its 25 person crew, the newswire also said.
