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Threats to International Peace and Security - Security Council, 9936th meeting
Meeting in the hours following Israel’s air strikes against targets in Iran, the Security Council today heard — and its members largely agreed — that de-escalation and diplomacy are imperative to avoid further strain in a region already groaning under the weight of compounding conflict.
“Today, at approximately 3:15 a.m. local time, the Israeli military launched waves of air strikes across Iran,” reported Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. These attacks — “which are reportedly continuing this afternoon”, she added — have targeted headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, military bases, radar installations and nuclear facilities. They have reportedly caused significant damage — including dozens of civilian casualties — and in retaliation, Iran launched some 100 drones towards Israel. “As I speak, there are reports of Iranian missiles heading towards Israel,” she said. She noted that the Israel Defense Forces have called this a “precise, pre-emptive strike”, prompted by the “imminent threat from Iran’s nuclear programme”. Multiple nuclear installations were struck, including in Natanz — one of that programme’s “central sites”, she said.
Israel’s Prime Minister has stated that Israeli forces also attacked Iran’s ballistic-missile capabilities and top Iranian nuclear scientists. She recalled that the Prime Minister stated these attacks were intended to “ward off an existential threat” and vowed that “the battle would continue for as many days as it takes”.
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