Following an attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus in early April, Israel was targeted by Iranian retaliation on the night of Saturday April 13 to Sunday April 14. Tensions escalated, prompting international reactions and fears of potential escalation.
Following Washington’s warnings to create a humanitarian corridor in the Gaza Strip, Israel struck the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, on April 1, killing 16 people. Iran was quick to retaliate. On the night of Saturday April 13 to Sunday April 14, Iran launched a drone and missile attack on the Hebrew state.
Tensions had been running high in the days leading up to the attack. On Saturday April 13, Israel announced that schools would be closed on Sunday, the first day of the week in Israel, for security reasons. Israel also closed its airspace at 00:30.
Joe Biden cut short his weekend at his family home for similar reasons. The President’s team announced that he was returning “to the White House” on Saturday afternoon “to consult with his national security team on events in the Middle East”.
The situation was further aggravated on Saturday when Iran seized the container ship MSC Aries near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. However, the Iranian authorities did not specify whether this operation was linked to their recent threats of retaliation.
“We strongly condemn Iran’s seizure of the British-owned, Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries in international waters. We call on Iran to immediately release this vessel and its crew, made up of Indians, Filipinos, Pakistanis, Russians and Estonians,” said US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson.
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