After a major attack on Israel
USA imposes new sanctions against Iran
October 12, 2024, 5:11 a.m
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At the beginning of October, Iran fired around 200 rockets at Israel. Now comes the reaction from the USA. At the same time, Washington wants to convince Israel not to carry out strikes against the Islamic Republic’s oil infrastructure or nuclear facilities.
The US is imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic in response to the Iranian missile attack on Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained that these measures are aimed at cutting off the Iranian government’s revenue for its nuclear program, missile development and support for terrorist organizations.
According to the US State Department, companies that are active in the Iranian oil trade and several ships that transport Iranian oil are affected. Iran fired around 200 rockets at Israel on October 1st. Israel threatened “deadly and precise” retaliation. US President Joe Biden advised Israel against attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and its oil industry. US officials fear that a strike on Iran’s facilities could prompt Tehran to attack oil fields in Saudi Arabia and potentially force the US to intervene militarily, the Wall Street Journal wrote. Iran has warned Arab countries that it could retaliate against them if they allow Israel to use their airspace to attack targets in Iran, it said.
Meanwhile, the EU also wants to impose new sanctions against Iran on Monday. According to diplomats, the member states want to respond to Iran’s delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia. This step is seen as a new breach of taboo because of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
Israel’s soldiers are banned from fasting
Meanwhile, fighting continues between Israel and its enemies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip on the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur. Although Yom Kippur is observed as a day of rest and fasting, Israel’s soldiers in the combat zones are prohibited from fasting, reports the Times of Israel. Israel is on high alert amid ongoing rocket fire from Lebanon and increasing tensions with Iran.
In the first hours of the Yom Kippur holiday alone, more than 120 rockets were fired at Israel, the Israeli newspaper reports. According to the military, a total of 230 projectiles were fired at Israel the day before. Warning sirens wailed again at night in the north of the country. A building in the seaside resort of Herzliya was damaged in the attack by two drones on the greater Tel Aviv area. No people were harmed.
According to the Ministry of Health in Beirut, dozens more people were killed in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon. It remained unclear how many of these were members of Hezbollah. The information could not be independently verified.
Blinken speaks to Beirut
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on the phone with the Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri and Lebanon’s acting head of government Najib Mikati. Blinken reiterated the US’s commitment to a diplomatic solution to the conflict. He also emphasized the importance of state institutions in the post-conflict stabilization of the country and the need to fill the current presidential vacancy through democratic means.
Hezbollah has been attacking Israel with rockets and grenades for a year – out of “solidarity” with the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as it says. Israel wants to drive Hezbollah from the Israel-Lebanese border so that around 60,000 evacuated Israelis can return to their homes. However, the pro-Iranian militia only wants to stop shelling once there is a ceasefire in the Gaza war. UN Resolution 1701 prohibits the militia’s presence in the border area. The Israeli military must therefore withdraw behind the so-called Blue Line – the Lebanese-Israeli border.