With India’s first direct attack on Israel triggered the spectre of wider conflict in West Asia, India on April 14, 2024, said it is seriously concerned over escalating hostilities between the two sides and called for an immediate halt to violence and return to the path of diplomacy.
As Iran’s firing of the hundreds of drones and missile towards Israel further escalated the tensions in the region, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held separate telephonic conversations with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts, and underlined the importance of the avoiding escalation and exercising restraint.
Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1 that killed seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) including a senior general. In its reaction, India called for immediate de-escalation of the situation and said that its embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community in the region.
“We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security of the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.” We call for the immediate de-escalations, exercise of restraint stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy,” it said. The MEA said India is closely monitoring the evolving situations in West Asia.
“We are closely monitoring the entire situation. Our embassies in the region and are in close touch with the Indian community,” it said in a statement. It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region, it added. Iran’s unprecedented attacks drew international condemnation and anguish with many global leaders calling for restraint by both Iran and Israel.
In his telephonic conversation with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollah, Jaishankar also called for the release of the seventeen Indians on board a Portuguese flagged cargo vessel MSC Aries. On April 13, 2024, the Iranian military seized a cargo ship with Israeli links near the Strait of Hormuz. The ship has 17 Indian crew members.
“Spoke to Iranian FM Amir Abdolah this evening. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Jaishankar posted on X, “Discussed the current situation in the region Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation exercising restraint a returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch, he said.
In his talks with foreign minister of the Jewish nation Katz, Jaishankar shared India’s concerns over the situation arising out of Iran-Israel hostilities. Shared our concerns at the developments yesterday, Discussed the larger regional situation Agreed to stay in touch, the external affairs minister said.
With the escalations of tensions in West Asia, India on April 12, 2024, asked its citizens not to travel to Israel and Iran. It is learnt that New Delhi is looking at various contingencies including possible evacuations of Indians for the two countries if the overall situation deteoriates. At present around 4000 Indians are residing in Iran and while the number in Israel is nearly 18,500 according to official estimates.
Following Iran’s attack, the Israeli military said it and its allies have intercepted the majority of more than 300 drones and missiles fired by Iran. Hours after Iran’s attack on Israel, the Chief of Staff of Iran’s armed forces, Major General Mohammed Bagheri said Tehran had no intention of continuing operation against Israel and the operation has been concluded according to an Iranian media agency.
Tehran also warned about a much bigger strike if Israel decides on a retaliatory attack. US President Joe Biden said the American military helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles launched by Iran. Earlier today, Iran and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq launched an unprecedented aerial attack against military facilities in Iran. I condemned these attacks in the strongest possible terms,” he said in a statement.
“At my direction, to support the defence of Israel the US military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defence destroyers to the region over the course of the past week,” Biden said. “Thanks to these deployments, and the extraordinary skill of our service members we helped Israel take down nearly all major incoming drones and missiles”, he said.
The US President also spoke to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed Washington’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel. “Tomorrow I will convene my fellow G-7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack. My team will engage with their counterparts across the region, Biden said.
“And we will stay in close touch with Israeli leaders and while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary actions to protect our people,” he said. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also condemned Iran’s attack on Israel.
I strongly condemn the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attacks launched on Israel by Islamic Republic of Iran, he said. Guterres also called for immediate cessation of hostilities.
“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East,” he said.
