Middle East latest: Israel carries out operation in Iran, source says - as Iran fires its air defence systems (2024)

Sky's US correspondent James Matthews says the Americans are indicating they were given notice by Israel that there would be a strike in due course.

"Questions possibly for the Iranians - how much notice did the US have of this and to what extent because of that prior knowledge?" says Matthews.

"The Israelis would have wanted to tell America prior to this action for a number of reasons.

"Clearly there was a diplomatic priority, but also a practical priority: the US has bases and forces in that general vicinity.

"For the sake of US safety, the Israelis will have wanted to tip off the United States to a degree about its plans."

Matthews says the difficulty is now how the US handles the hours ahead, given President Biden told President Netanyahu he would not support a counter strike on Iran.

"There will be tough discussions one imagines between the US and Israel about Israel's course of action," adds Matthews.

"The challenge clearly is in terms of reining in potential escalation - because this strike has escalation written all over it."

Initial thoughts and analysis by Sky's Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall:

"It could be this is a single strike on a deliberate target to therefore send three messages: Firstly to restore that deterrence - you hit us, you broke a red line by hitting us inside Israel - we're going to hit you back.

"Secondly, if it is a single strike on the manufacturing plant, it would also send a message that it's a carefully calibrated thought-out response: it's not just an assault on Iran.

"And thirdly, it sends a message to the Iranian leadership that we can hit you deep inside Iran, we can fly our aircraft close to or within your airspace undetected, and can therefore do a lot worse if we're pushed to do so."

Bunkall adds there are also some reports of explosions in Syria and Iraq.

He says it's possible it could be Israelis taking out pro-Iran militia targets, but is more likely to be their jets breaking the sound barrier.

Israel carried out an operation in Iran tonight, a person familiar with the matter tells Sky News's US partner network NBC News.

They added separately that Israeli officials notified US officials today that a response was coming.

Iran has suspended flights over several cities, including the capital Tehran, its state media has said.

It comes after Iran's Fars news agency said explosions were heard near the airport at the country's central Isfahan city.

"The cause of these sounds is still unknown, and investigations continue until the exact details of the incident are determined," the semi-official Fars news agency said.

Iranian state TV described a "loud noise" near Isfahan, without elaborating.

It remains unclear if Iran is under an ongoing attack.

Reuters news agency said it was told by an Iranian source that air defence systems had been activated.

Sky's Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall said it's "early days" but there are reports Israel may have launched a single, targeted strike on the manufacturing base in Isfahan where the drones used to attack Israel were likely made.

Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel during last weekend's unprecedented attack, according to Israel Defense Forces.

Iran said it was retaliating for an attack on one of its consular buildings in Syria.

As we've been reporting this evening, the UN Security Council has not passed a resolution recommending Palestinian membership, after the US vetoed the motion.

These images show members discussing and voting on the motion, withRobert Wood, United States' ambassador to the UN, the only person to lift their hand when members were asked if they opposed the resolution.

Some reaction from Palestine now.

The Palestinian presidency has condemned the US veto of a Security Council draftresolution that recommended a full United Nations membership ofa Palestinian state.

The presidency said in a statement the veto was"unfair, unethical and unjustified."

The deputy permanent observer of the state of Palestine to the UN said praised the 12 members who did vote for the motion: "Thank you to all those who rise to the historical moment."

"We are not deterred in our pursuit for Palestinian freedom and independence,"Majed Bamya said.

The Israeli foreign minister has praised the US for exercising its right to veto a motion that would have seen Palestine become a member of the international organisation.

"I commend the United States for vetoing this shameful proposal, which was rejected today at the UN Security Council," Israel Katz said in the aftermath of the vote.

"It is outrageous that even half a year after the 7 October massacre, the UN Security Council failed to condemn Hamas horrific crimes," he added.

The US has vetoed a motion that would see Palestine join the United Nations as a full member.

While this shouldn't come as any great surprise, the motion has now been formally vetoed by a permanent member- meaning it cannot pass.

The move essentially denies Palestine's recognition as a state in the eyes of the UN.

Twelve countries voted in favour of granting full membership to Palestine, two abstained and the US voted against the motion.

The Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, is currently a non-member observer state at the UN - a position granted by the 193-member General Assembly in 2012.

Votes for

• Slovenia
• Sierra Leone
• Russia
• South Korea
• Mozambique
• Malta
• Japan
• Guyana
• France
• Ecuador
• China
• Algeria

Abstentions

• The UK
• Switzerland

Votes against

• The US

Why did the US veto?

We received an explanation from a state department spokesman earlier today.

"Premature actions in New York (site of the UN headquarters), even with the best intentions, will not achieve statehood for the Palestinian people," Vedant Patel told reporters.

"Specifically, there are unresolved questions as to whether the applicant (Palestine) can meet criteria to be considered as a state," he added.

He pointed to Hamas's continued grip on power in the enclave as one of the principal reasons for Washington's refusal to back the motion.

"We've long called on the Palestinian Authority to undertake the necessary reforms to establish the attributes of readiness for statehood and note that Hamas, which is as you all know, a terrorist organisation is currently exerting power and influence in Gaza, which would be an integral part of the envisioned state in this resolution.

"And for that reason, the United States is voting 'no' on this proposed Security Council resolution."

A former Israeli prime minister believes that Iran has formally declared war on Israel, after a massive drone and missile attack at the weekend.

Ehud Olmert told Sky'slead world news presenterYalda Hakimhe thought that "strangely or fortunately enough, the event on Saturday night turned out to be a total failure for Iran and a great success for Israel and allies".

Watch part of his interview here...