According to reports, Israeli missiles targeted a site within Iran, as confirmed by a US official. This development followed Iran’s drone strike on Israel in response to an attack at the Iranian embassy in Syria.
An explosion was reported at an airport in Isfahan, Iran. Isfahan province houses several Iranian nuclear facilities, including Natanz, a critical uranium enrichment center. As a result of the escalating tensions, numerous flights were diverted over Iranian airspace.
Over the past weekend, Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles in retaliation for what it perceived as an Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria. However, the majority of these projectiles were intercepted before reaching Israeli territory.
Iran has appealed to the United Nations Security Council, urging intervention to compel Israel to cease its military actions. Meanwhile, the UN secretary-general cautioned about the heightened risk in the Middle East.
Israel had previously announced its intention to retaliate against Iran’s missile and drone attack on April 13. Concerns have been raised by analysts and observers regarding the potential escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict, which could engulf the wider region in turmoil.
Meanwhile, Israel is becoming increasingly apprehensive about potential arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli political and military leaders for alleged breaches of international law in Gaza.
According to a report, the Prime Minister’s Office convened an urgent meeting with three ministers and several government legal experts to devise a strategy to fend off the anticipated warrants.
The urgency of the meeting was fueled by information suggesting that these warrants could be issued imminently. Netanyahu raised this concern during recent discussions with Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
The participants in Tuesday’s meeting, including Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, decided that Israel would seek assistance from influential international diplomatic circles to counteract these efforts.
Jerusalem is particularly worried that arrest warrants may be sought on the grounds of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Countries accusing Israel of violating international law and the 4th Geneva Convention are believed to be spearheading this initiative.
The fear of such warrants underscores Israel’s broader apprehension about the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel, which is not a member of the ICC, rejects its jurisdiction over the matter, arguing that the Palestinian Authority is not a sovereign state and therefore cannot grant the ICC jurisdiction.
