Iran-Israel conflict LIVE | Israel says 99% missiles stopped; Tehran calls strike ‘successful’

Air India has temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

An official said the direct flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv will be suspended for now.

Air India operates four weekly flights between the national capital and Israeli city.

The Tata group-owned carrier recommenced services to Tel Aviv on March 3 after a gap of nearly five months.

Air India suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, starting October 7, 2023, in the wake of the Hamas attack on the Israeli city.

Iran, Israel, the US and Hamas walked away with some gains from Iran’s attack on Israel:

Israel: As more than 300 drones and missiles headed toward Israel, the country was able to successfully put to the test its aerial defence system, which, along with help from allies, blocked 99 per cent of the projectiles and prevented any major damage.

By contrast, Israel’s military had suffered a bruising defeat at the hands of a far less-equipped enemy when Hamas stormed from Gaza into Israel on October 7.

Israel has also boasted about the coalition of forces that helped it repel the Iranian assault. It’s a much-needed show of support at a time when Israel is at its most isolated because of the Gaza war.

Iran: Iran vowed repeatedly that it would avenge the Israeli strike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus on April 1 that killed two generals. Sunday’s assault allowed Iran to show its citizens that it won’t stand by when its assets are attacked.

The US: The US was a key player in repelling the assault, demonstrating to its allies around the world the power and reliability of American support.

Hamas: Hamas, which is backed by Iran, welcomed the strike on Israel. Since launching its October 7 attack, Hamas had hoped that regional partners might come to its assistance and drag Israel into a broader war. While some have done — including the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemen’s Houthis — Iran had not directly entered the fray until Sunday.

The Iranian army has said its retaliatory attack on Israel has “achieved all its objectives”, and warned Israel not to respond. Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian has also said Iran has no intention of continuing the offensive but, if necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its interests against any new aggression.

Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has claimed they informed the US that their attack on Israel would be “limited” and for “self-defence”.

Iran’s foreign ministry has reportedly summoned the ambassadors of Britain, France, and Germany to question their “irresponsible stance” regarding Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel.

The three European countries have condemned Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel’s bombing of its consulate in Syria on April 1.

The ministry accused the three countries of “double standards” as they, earlier this month, opposed a Russian-drafted UN Security Council statement to condemn Israel’s attack on Iran’s embassy in Syria.

“Iran’s military action against the Zionist regime’s (Israel) bases is well within the framework of the right to legitimate defence stipulated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and it is in response to a series of crimes, including the recent attack on the embassy compound in Syria,” the official said.

Iran has sent a message to the US, warning Washington against cooperation with Israel in any military operation again Tehran following its unprecedented attack on Israel.

The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, as saying that Tehran had communicated its message to the US through the Swiss Embassy, which handles US interest in Iran in the absence of diplomatic relations.

President Ebrahim Raisi sent a message praising Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for launching the attack, saying it had taught a lesson to the “Zionist regime.” He also warned that “any new adventure against the interests of the Iranian nation would be met with a heavier and regretful response from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

State TV meanwhile broadcast interviews with people on the street who praised the Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel and thanked the Iranian military.

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its “utmost concern” Sunday following Iranian strikes on Israel.

It said it hoped that Middle Eastern governments would resolve their problems through political and diplomatic means.

It also said that Western states had stopped the UN Security Council from “adequately responding” to the April 1 strike on Iran's consulate building in Syria.

“We have repeatedly warned that unresolved crises throughout the Middle East — primarily in the area of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — are often being fuelled by irresponsible and provocative actions and will lead to increased tensions in the area,” the ministry said in a statement.

Hamas has demanded a “clear written commitment” that Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip during the second of a three-phase cease-fire deal, a senior Egyptian official and a Hamas official said Sunday.

The Palestinian militant group said Saturday it submitted its response to a six-week cease-fire proposal to Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

It said it's still committed to its demands for a permanent cease-fire, Israeli army withdrawal from all parts of Gaza, the return of displaced people to their homes, intensifying the flow of aid and the start of reconstruction. Israel said earlier Sunday that Hamas had rejected the latest proposal for a deal submitted last week.

“We confirm our readiness to reach a deal regarding a serious exchange of prisoners between the two sides,” Hamas said.

The proposal presented to both sides calls for a six-week cease-fire in Gaza, during which Hamas would release 40 of the more than 100 hostages the group is holding in the enclave in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, including 100 serving long sentences for serious crimes.

The Egyptian official said Hamas wants “a comprehensive, phased deal” that included ending the war, Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and an agreement of all hostages in return for a large number of Palestinian prisoners. Israel says it wants to destroy Hamas' military and governing capabilities.

The officials said the response also included an increase in the number of Palestinian prisoners Hamas wants released from Israel.

The officials from Egypt and Hamas spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to disclose details from the sensitive negotiations. They said that Hamas' response included the unrestricted return of displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza through the two main south-north thoroughfares.

The Egyptian official said mediators will carefully review the response before calling for another round of talks.

The Indian mission in Israel on Sunday issued a fresh “important advisory” for its nationals after attacks on the Jewish State by Iran with hundreds of projectiles, advising them to stay calm and adhere to safety protocols.

“In light of the recent events in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to stay calm and adhere to the safety protocols issued by the local authorities,” the Indian mission said in the “important advisory” advisory posted on its social media handles.

“The Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and it is in touch with the Israeli authorities and Indian community members to ensure the safety of all our nationals,” it added.

It also urged Indian nationals to register with the embassy at a given link.

Despite the barrage of projectiles fired on Israel, none of the countries have taken any steps so far to evacuate their nationals, even though some of them, including the US, have issued advisories.

Schools and other educational institutions in Israel have suspended their activities till Monday but government offices and private businesses largely are functioning as usual with the government instructing all to follow guidelines being issued by the Home Front.