Jerusalem/Tehran, Oct 2 (EFE).- Israeli airstrikes intensified in Beirut and Gaza on Wednesday, defying international ceasefire pleas even as Israel and Iran traded renewed threats, raising fears of a broader conflict as tensions escalate.
The Israeli army confirmed it was targeting Hezbollah “terrorist sites” in Beirut, specifically warning residents of Dahye, a southern suburb, to evacuate certain areas due to imminent airstrikes.\
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that 55 people have been killed and more than 150 injured since the start of Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon and subsequent air raids.
In Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that it bombed a third school allegedly used by Islamist Hamas militant group, following two other school attacks the previous night that left several people dead.
Despite international efforts to mediate, the Israeli offensive continued unabated after Iran launched an attack on Israeli territory on Tuesday. The UN Security Council will convene on Wednesday to address the escalating violence.
Iran requested the meeting on Saturday after Israel’s airstrikes hit southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unfazed by the pending Security Council meeting, warned Tehran that it “made a big mistake” and would “pay the price” for launching missiles at Israel.
“The Iranian regime underestimates our resolve to defend ourselves and retaliate against our enemies,” Netanyahu said.
This marks Iran’s second attack on Israel this year, the first occurring in April with a series of missile and drone strikes.
Iran, meanwhile, cautioned Israel that any retaliation for its latest missile barrage would be met with “a much more severe” response.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declared on X that the attack was over unless “the Israeli regime provokes further retaliation.”
According to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, 90 percent of the missiles hit their intended targets.
The elite military unit also reported that the missiles struck locations where the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, and an Iranian general were allegedly planned.
In Washington, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed the effectiveness of the Iranian missile strike, but acknowledged that it marked a “significant escalation.”
He promised consequences, pending consultations with Israel and its allies.
The United States mobilized military assets on Tuesday to aid Israel in intercepting nearly 200 Iranian missiles. While American officials reported limited damage on the ground, they warned Tehran of forthcoming repercussions.
As tensions mount, international appeals for calm have grown louder. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, newly inaugurated, called for an immediate end to hostilities in Lebanon following Israel’s incursion.
Foreign Minister Araghchi held discussions with the foreign ministers of Britain, , and on Wednesday, urging restraint amid escalating tensions.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek to escalate tensions or war, though it is not afraid of them. We warn any external actors not to interfere in this conflict,” Araghchi told his European colleagues, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Araghchi emphasized that Iran acted in self-defense, targeting only military and security facilities belonging to what he referred to as the Zionist regime.
The ministry said Araghchi spoke by phone with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and British Foreign Minister David Lammy. He also held conversations with diplomats from other nations but did not provide details.
In his warning, Araghchi stated that Tehran would retaliate if Israel responds to the missile strike that involved 200 ballistic missiles. “Our response will be more severe,” he said, while also emphasizing Iran’s stance of “moderation.”
Araghchi urged all nations to help establish a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon to avoid further escalation of tensions in the Middle East. EFE
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