TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday warned it would defend itself following Israeli air strikes that killed two Iranian soldiers and further heightened fears of a full-scale wider regional war in the Middle East.
Israel warned Iran would “pay a heavy price” if it responded to the air strikes, and the United States, European Union, Germany and Britain demanded Tehran not escalate the conflict further.
In response, Iranian officials said that the nation had the “right and duty” to defend its sovereignty.
Following the Israeli air strikes, the Iranian government confirmed the attacks had resulted in “limited damage” but cost the lives of two soldiers. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the assault as a completed “retaliatory strike” against Iran’s missile facilities, with IDF aircraft returning safely.
On October 1, Iran launched roughly 200 missiles into Israel, marking the second direct attack from Tehran. That barrage, according to Iran, was a reprisal for Israeli strikes that killed senior Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh.
Russia has also urged restraint from all parties, warning that unchecked aggression could lead to a “catastrophic scenario” across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the violence between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon shows no signs of abating. Israeli air and ground operations have targeted Hezbollah strongholds.
Since late September, Lebanon’s health ministry reports that Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,580 people in Lebanon. On Saturday, an Israeli strike killed a Hezbollah-affiliated medic in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese health officials.
On the southern front, Israel continued a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks have killed at least 42,942 Palestinians, mostly women and children, Gaza’s health ministry said. The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with thousands of Palestinians enduring daily bombardments.
