Easyjet is not flying to Israel for the time being. Iran reiterates that it will respond again to Israel’s actions. More information in the news blog.
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After Iranian attack: Baerbock travels to Israel
1:00 p.m.: Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is visiting the Middle East again. Baerbock announced in Berlin that she would travel to Israel today for talks. She will assure Israel of “Germany’s full solidarity.” “It is now important to stop Iran without encouraging further escalation,” says Baerbock, referring to the reaction to the attack in which Tehran fired more than 300 drones as well as rockets and cruise missiles into Israeli territory over the weekend.
Baerbock also announces that he will work to tighten sanctions against Iranian drone production. Baerbock says that she and France and other EU partners had already campaigned last fall to use the sanctions regime against Iran on other “rocket technologies that are in Iran’s arsenal.” She hopes “that we as the EU can finally take this step together.”
Easyjet cancels flights to Israel until the end of October
12:53 p.m.: Easyjet will no longer fly to Israel until October 27th. Due to the constantly evolving situation in Israel, Easyjet has decided to cancel its flights to Tel Aviv for the remainder of the summer schedule, the low-cost airline said. There are various reimbursement options for affected passengers, including payment of the flight price.
Report: Saudi Arabia did not help repel Iran’s attack
11.12 a.m.: US-allied Saudi Arabia did not help repel Iran’s major attack on Israel, according to a report by the country’s Al-Arabija news channel. The kingdom was not involved in intercepting Iranian drones and missiles, reports the Saudi-funded channel, citing “informed circles.” The report speaks of a “clarification” – after Israeli media reports about alleged assistance from Saudi Arabia.
The Israeli news site KAN, citing a source with ties to the Saudi royal family, reported that the kingdom’s armed forces appeared to be involved. “All suspicious objects” would be intercepted in Saudi airspace, the source was quoted as saying.
The Wall Street Journal, citing Saudi government officials, reports that the kingdom and the United Arab Emirates gave the US important intelligence information in advance. These would then have helped defend against Iran’s attack. However, the two countries refused to allow the USA and Israel to use their own airspace for defense purposes.
Israel’s foreign minister calls for sanctions against Iran
9:36 a.m.: Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he has called on dozens of countries to impose sanctions on Iran’s missile program and to declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. He sent letters to 32 countries and spoke to numerous counterparts. The move is intended to stop and weaken Iran, writes Katz in a social media post.
Iran’s President: Will respond to any action
8:44 a.m.: Iran reiterates that it will respond to any action that goes against its interests. This is what President Ebrahim Raisi told Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, according to a report by the Iranian news agency Isna.
Biden’s security advisor Sullivan postpones trip to India
8.05 a.m.: US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is postponing a trip to India scheduled for this week. The reason is the “ongoing events in the Middle East,” says the US Embassy in New Delhi.
China: Iran can master the situation and avoid further tensions
2:15 a.m.: According to China’s assessment, Iran is in a position to “manage the situation well and spare the region from further instability.” At the same time, Iran can maintain its sovereignty and dignity. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said this in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, reports the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
