White House calls on Iran to release seized ship 'immediately'
The White House has called for the “immediate” release of the ship seized by Iran.
West Bank violence: Palestinian PM condemns settler attacks
The Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority has condemned the ongoing attacks by settlers on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank following the killing of a young Israeli shepherd whose body was found in the Ramallah area today.
Mohammed Mustafa said in a statement that the settler attacks will not deter Palestinians from staying on their lands and thwarting migration and eviction efforts from the territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
Biden returned to the White House for an emergency consultation
US President Joe Biden today “returned” to the White House for emergency consultations with his national security team, cutting short a weeklong vacation at his family home after Iran seized a container ship that Iran accused of being “linked” to Israel.
“The President returns to the White House this afternoon to confer with his National Security Council on events in the Middle East,” his team announced in a statement to reporters, without elaborating.
IDF spokesman condemns Iran's “indecision”.
“Iran is a power that aspires to hegemony in the region,” Israeli military spokesman Olivier Rafowicz told BFMTV.
“It uses many countries like Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq” and wants “destabilization” by “using its military forces to attack our country through these elements.”
MSC Aries was on its way to India from Khalifa Port yesterday
According to VesselFinder website, The 2020-built container ship MSC Aries departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates yesterday.
It was en route to India and was due to arrive at Nawa Shewa port in the west of the country on Monday evening.
An Iranian official has welcomed the 'panic' that has gripped Israel
Yahya Rahim Safavi, an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, welcomed the “total panic” gripping Israel as it awaited Tehran's announced response.
“The Zionists have been in full panic and vigilance for a week,” said Yahya Rahim Safavi, quoted by ISNA.
“They have stopped the military offensive on Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip,” and added, “They and their supporters are afraid because they don't know what Iran wants to do.”
Australian Qantas flights to avoid Iranian airspace
Australian airline Qantas announced on Saturday that it would divert its long-haul flights between London and Perth to avoid Iranian airspace.
The Perth-London route, normally a direct flight of 17.5 hours, will now be allowed to refuel in Singapore and divert. The return London-Perth flight will continue non-stop, on an equally modified route but benefiting from favorable winds.
The company's other flights will not be affected by this precautionary measure.
Israel calls on EU to “let Iran go now”.
After the capture of the MSC Aris, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared that “Ayatollah Khamenei's regime is a criminal regime that supports the crimes of Hamas and is currently carrying out a piracy operation in violation of international law.”
“I call on the European Union and the free world to immediately declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization and to sanction Iran immediately,” he added.
Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have suspended their routes to Tehran until April 18
German airline Lufthansa and its Austrian subsidiary Austrian Airlines announced yesterday evening that they would suspend flights to and from Tehran until Thursday, April 18.
“The company will no longer use Iranian airspace,” a Lufthansa spokesman said.
The ship seized by Iran had 25 crew members on board
According to Italian-Swiss ship owner MSC, the MSC Aries container ship seized by Iran has 25 crew members on board.
“We regret to confirm that the MSC Aries was boarded by Iranian authorities by helicopter and belongs to Cordal Shipping Inc, chartered by MSC, linked to Zodiac Maritime” and “has 25 crew members on board,” Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), headquartered in Geneva, told AFP.
Israel has warned that Iran will face the consequences of expansion
The Israeli military warned on Saturday through its spokesman Daniel Hagari that Iran would “suffer the consequences of further worsening the situation”.
“We have strengthened our preparation to protect Israel from further Iranian aggression,” Daniel Hagari said in a video posted on social networks.
Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel
Hello and welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the tensions between Israel and Iran. Since the strike targeting its embassy in Damascus, Tehran has threatened a major retaliation against Israel. In the morning, Iran seized a container ship “linked” to Israel off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
“Web specialist. Infuriatingly humble coffee ninja. Wannabe zombie advocate. Subtly charming tv fanatic. Avid social media scholar.”