By Kathleen Magramo, Antoinette Radford, Maureen Chowdhury and Amir Vera, CNN
Updated 12:02 a.m. ET, April 16, 2024
22 Posts
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6:05 a.m. ET, April 15, 2024
German leader warns Iran against further escalation in the Middle East
From CNN's Stephanie Halasz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to the press in Shanghai, China, on April 15. Michael Kappeler/picture alliance/Getty Images
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned Tehran against further escalation in the Middle East after Iran's attack on Israel.
Scholz said the attack "is a serious escalation of the situation and is in no way acceptable, understandable or tolerable.”
"We strongly condemn the Iranian attack and warn against any further escalation. Iran must not continue down this path. At the same time, it is absolutely clear to us that we stand in solidarity with Israel, which has every right to defend itself after the terrible attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens in October last year,” he said.
5:17 a.m. ET, April 15, 2024
Israeli soldiers wounded by explosion near northern border
From CNN's Ami Kaufman
Four soldiers were wounded during overnight operations near Israel's northern border, its military said.
One of the soldiers was severely wounded, according to the military.
Two soldiers had moderate injuries, and another soldier was lightly wounded as a result of an explosion from an unknown source, it said.
4:59 a.m. ET, April 15, 2024
African countries urge restraint after Iran's attack on Israel
From CNN’s Eve Brennan in London
Israel's Iron Dome air defense system was launched to intercept missiles fired from Iran on April 14. Tomer Neuberg/AP
Several African countries have expressed concern after Iran’s attack on Israel.
South Africa emphasized that all parties must "avoid any act that would escalate tensions in a particularly fragile region" and urged the world not to forget the war in Gaza.
“South Africa has continuously stressed that irrespective of whether states believe that their use of force is lawful, it is never wise to resort to war as inevitably, it is ordinary people who bear the brunt of conflict," its Department for International Relations and Cooperation said.
Nigeria called on Iran and Israel “to exercise restraint” and “avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East,” its Foreign Ministry said.
“In this critical period, it behoves the two countries to reflect on the universal commitment to peaceful resolution of conflicts, for the advancement of global peace and security.”
Kenya's President William Rutosaidthe attack "only serves to aggravate an already delicate situation in the Middle East.”
Ruto said Iran's attack "should be condemned by all peace loving countries” and that Kenya “urges Israel to show utmost restraint.”
Somalia urged all parties “to immediately halt further escalation and exercise maximum restraint,” Somalia’s foreign ministry said.
The ministry said rising hostilities threaten regional stability and global security, and emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza.
4:50 a.m. ET, April 15, 2024
Iran reiterates that attack on Israel was a "legitimate" response
From Amy Cassidy in London
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani speaks at a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on January 8. Xinhua/Shutterstock/File
Iran’s attack on Israel was a “legitimate” and “responsible” reaction, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani reiterated on Monday.
Speaking to reporters in Tehran, Kanaani said “military action was the last resource which exhausted all the diplomatic channels.”
Kanaani said Iran is not looking at “intensifying tension” in the region but will take “proportionate action” to defend itself.
Tehran has said the strikes over the weekend were a retaliation for the bombing of an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus on April 1.
The strikes were the first time the Islamic Republic had launched a direct assault on Israel from its soil, escalating tensions in the Middle East stoked over the war in Gaza.
4:42 a.m. ET, April 15, 2024
China's response to Iran's attack on Israel highlights its regional role
From CNN's Nectar Gan and Simone McCarthy
Objects are seen in the sky above Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel on April 14. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
China has voiced “deep concern” over escalating tensions in the Middle East after Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel.
The attack raised the prospect of a wider conflagration in a region where Beijing has pledged to play peacemaker and promote its own security vision.
Iran's attack has pushed the shadow war between the two regional foes into the open. Western allies are urging Israel to de-escalate as fears grow of an all-out regional war – a scenario Washington has sought to enlist Beijing’s help to avoid.
The latest flare-up of tensions has again raised questions over how much leverage China wields over Iran – and whether Beijing is willing to turn its political capital into influence.
“On paper, China has a great deal of potential leverage over Iran,” said William Figueroa, an assistant professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
China has been Iran’s biggest trading partner for the past decade and buys 90% of Iran’s oil exports, providing a lifeline to Tehran against US sanctions. Chinese companies also provide Iran with security and surveillance equipment.
But it is difficult for China to pull these levers to influence Iran’s behavior, Figueroa said.
Jordan calls on all parties to de-escalate after Iran's attack on Israel
From CNN's Kathleen Magramo
Jordan's Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi speaks at the UN Headquarters in New York on October 24. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty Images
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that Amman does not want a spillover conflict in the Middle East after Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel.
He stressed that all parties to the conflict should focus on the rights of Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Iran's ambassador in Amman was summoned on Sunday after Jordan intercepted Iranian drones over its airspace.
Safadi said its response would be the same whether the threat had originated from Iran, Israel or any other country.
"Our longstanding policy, whatever objects that go into our skies, violates our airspace that we believe that pose a danger to Jordan, we will do whatever it means to end that threat," Safadi told CNN's Becky Anderson.
When asked whether Iran warned Jordan before the attack, Safadi said "it was no secret to everybody" that the Iranian retaliation was "imminent."
"We don't want conflict with Iran. We don't want conflict and the whole region," Safadi said.
Iran's attack has heightened regional tensions, with Safadi noting that the continuation of the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank could lead to further destabilization.
Safadi said that when the war in Gaza ends, parties can "work on a two-state solution that would fulfil the legitimate rights of the Palestinians to freedom and statehood."
4:39 a.m. ET, April 15, 2024
Zelensky says Iran's attack on Israel proves modern air defense systems save lives
From CNN staff
An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, on April 14. Amir Cohen/Reuters
Iran's attack on Israel proves that modern air defense systems save lives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Sunday following Tehran's large-scale drone and missile attack on Israel.
According to the Israeli military, the vast majority of more than 300 projectiles — including around 170 drones and 120 ballistic missiles — fired toward Israel by Iran and its proxies were intercepted by aerial defense systems and Israeli allies.
"Modern air defense systems are capable of protecting lives — this was demonstrated in the Middle East when aviation and air defense shot down Iranian missiles and Shahed drones aimed at Israel," Zelensky said.
Some background: Zelensky said last week that Ukraine “will lose the war” on its soil if the United States Congress does not approve military aid to help it defend Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky’s warning comes as Congress has for months stalled on a package of aid for Ukraine, leaving Kyiv to battle ammunition shortages while Russia pounds Ukrainian cities with missiles.
The US Senate passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with assistance for Ukraine and Israel in February, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to hold a vote on passing the package for Ukraine.
The delay in Congress had boosted Russian confidence, Zelensky said Sunday.
"We cannot waste any more time," he said.
4:13 a.m. ET, April 15, 2024
Israeli authorities release 150 Gaza detainees including ambulance crews, Palestinian officials say
From CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Eyad Kourdi
Israeli authorities have released 150 people previously detained in Gaza, according to the Palestinian General Authority for Crossings and Borders on Monday.
Two of the detainees were ambulance workers for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, PRCS said.
They were held for 50 days after being detained at a military checkpoint while trying to evacuate patients from Al-Amal Hospital in the city of Khan Younis on February 25, according to a PRCS statement.
“The occupation continues to detain 6 of the association’s crews to this day, and their fate remains unknown,” PRCS said.
4:16 a.m. ET, April 15, 2024
Israeli military warns Gaza residents that the north is a "dangerous combat zone"
From CNN's Eyad Kourdi and Kareem Kaddher
Displaced Palestinians make their way north as they attempt to return to their homes in northern Gaza on April 14. Ramadan Abed/Reuters
Israel's military has warned Gaza residents that the north of the strip is "a dangerous combat zone" through social media and airdropped leaflets.
The military's Arabic spokesperson posted an "urgent" message on X directing Gazans "to stay in the humanitarian areas and shelters in the southern part of the Strip and avoid attempting to return to the north of the Strip" to "ensure your safety."
Videos began circulating online Sunday morning showing people heading to the north for the first time in such large numbers. Some people told CNN they heard the Israeli military was allowing women and children to move back up. Others said their relatives were allowed to cross over.
A young girl was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, her mother said. She and her daughter had attempted to cross into the north with Sabreen’s husband, but the soldiers turned him back, leaving her and her four children to face the journey alone. She told CNN her daughter is still in intensive care.
