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Iran is prepared to retaliate if Israel launches a counter-attack following drone and missile strikes on Saturday, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required,” Iravani wrote in a letter to UN leadership on Saturday, according to Newsweek.

Iravani explained that Iran “does not seek escalation or conflict in the region” and that the drone attack was a “decisive response” to Israel’s strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Damascus, Syria, on April 1, which killed two senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required,” Iraveni said.

“Should the Israeli regime commit any military aggression again, Iran’s response will assuredly and decisively be stronger and more resolute.”

Meanwhile, a 7-year-old Israeli girl from Southern Israel has been severely injured by Iran’s drone and missile onslaught on the Jewish state, per Israel’s emergency service.

The girl is being treated for her injuries by medics from the Magen David ambulance services after she was struck by shrapnel.

The MDA said in a statement that the child suffered a head injury and was rendered unconscious.

Iran has launched a wave of hundreds of drones, as well as cruise missiles at Israel.

The move comes after the Jewish state killed top Iranian generals in a strike in Syria on April 1.

Israel has instituted restrictions on civilian activity in response to the strike.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We are prepared for any scenario.”

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White House ripped over sanctions waiver that critics say put billions of dollars in Iran’s hands

By Ryan King and Chris Nesi
Getty Images; AP; Shutterstock

The Biden administration is being blasted for allowing billions of dollars to allegedly flow into Iran under a controversial sanctions waiver — even after Iranian-backed rebels launched deadly air strikes against American forces and the Muslim country just directly attacked staunch US ally Israel.

Last month, the White House extended the waiver, a move that unlocked up to $10 billion more in frozen funds by enabling Iraq to pay the Iranian government for electricity services, according to critics and the Washington Free Beacon.

The Biden administration had already renewed the waiver program, which was established in 2018, in November.

The extended waiver was then set to expire again in March, but the administration reapproved it once more — just six weeks after three US service members were killed and dozens more injured in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants in Jordan in late January.

This past weekend, Iran launched 300 drones and missiles at Israel in retaliation for an airstrike in Damascus earlier this month.

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Speaker Mike Johnson says he will push for aid to Israel, Ukraine this week: ‘Being put together right now’

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week as he attempts the difficult task of winning House approval for a national security package that also includes funding for Ukraine and allies in Asia.

Johnson, R-La., is already under immense political pressure from his fellow GOP lawmakers as he tries to stretch between the Republican Party’s divided support for helping Kyiv defend itself from Moscow’s invasion.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is going to push for aid to Ukraine and Israel this week.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is going to push for aid to Ukraine and Israel this week. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

The Republican speaker has sat for two months on a $95 billion supplemental package that would send support to the US allies, as well as provide humanitarian aid for civilians in Ukraine and Gaza and funding to replenish US weapons provided to Taiwan.

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Israelis flock to beaches, cafes after Iran drone attack: ‘It’s normal life for them’

By Jesse O’Neill

Non-plussed Israelis sunbathed and enjoyed outdoor cafes Sunday, hours after Iran’s air assault. 

About 99% of Iran’s drones and missiles were intercepted in the air by Israel with the help of US, Jordan, France and UK forces, leaving little structural damage — although they tragically claimed the life of an Arab child when the remnants of a shot-down ballistic missile fell on her family’s home near Arad, officials said.

The strikes — which were retaliation for Israel’s killing of seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fighters and leaders in Syria on April 1 — appeared to have left at least some Israelis relatively unphased, judging from photos published Sunday of people sunbathing in Tel Aviv and enjoying outdoor cafes.

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Sen. John Fetterman says Biden should not rule out US involvement in an Israeli campaign against Iran

By Fox News

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said he didn’t agree with President Biden on his stance that the U.S. wouldn’t join in an offensive operation against Iran during an interview on Sunday, saying he would never “capitulate to the fringe” of his party.

CNN host Jake Tapper asked Fetterman to respond to reports that Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. wouldn’t participate in any offensive operations against Iran during a conversation on Saturday.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., arrives as the Senate holds a procedural vote on a package of wartime funding for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., stated that he does not agree with Biden's position that he will not be joing Israel in a counter-offensive against Iran. AP

“Do you think that’s the right call or should direct U.S. military action, as some of your colleagues in the Senate are suggesting, should that be on the table?” he asked.

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Biden convenes G7 emergency summit as Israel debates response to blistering Iran drone attack

By Chris Nesi

President Biden met with G7 leaders in an emergency session Sunday as his administration said it will leave it up to Israel to decide how to respond to Iran’s blistering drone attack — and Iranian and Israeli authorities prepared for their next moves.

“President Biden spoke by secure video with the leaders of the G7 today,” the White House wrote in a post on X above a photo of the commander in chief and his top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during the meeting, with other heads of member countries appearing on a video screen behind them.

“The leaders condemned Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel and reaffirmed the G7’s commitment to Israel’s security,” the post said, referring to the group of leaders from global powerhouses including the US, UK, France and Japan.

President Biden, right, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, speak with G7 leaders on Sunday.
President Biden, right, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, speak with G7 leaders on Sunday. White House

Hawkish Israeli government ministers had reportedly called for an immediate retaliatory strike after Saturday night’s attack on Israel, which saw hundreds of drones and missiles launched into the Jewish nation. Most of the armed drones were intercepted in the air.

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Oil prices expected to rise after Iran's attack on Israel

By Reuters

Oil prices are expected to rise on Monday after Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend, analysts said on Sunday, but further gains may depend on how Israel and the West choose to retaliate.

Concern of a response from Iran to the strike on its embassy compound in Damascus supported oil last week and helped send global benchmark Brent crude on Friday to $92.18 a barrel, the highest since October.

The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019.
REUTERS

It settled that day up 71 cents at $90.45, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 crude futures rose 64 cents to $85.66. Trading is closed on Sunday.

“It is only reasonable to expect stronger prices when trading resumes,” said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. “Having said that, there has been no impact on production so far and Iran has said that ‘the matter can be deemed concluded’.

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‘Biden is weak’: President draws fire for muted response to Iran attack on Israel

By Ryan King

Critics quickly pummeled President Biden over his response to the unprecedented escalation from Iran against Israel, blasting him for not addressing the public right away and being more supportive of the US ally. 

Biden, 81 pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against carrying out a retaliatory attack against Tehran amid fears of such actions spiraling into a larger war, according to multiple reports.

This particularly animated his critics.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers virtual remarks during the National Action Network Convention.
President Biden pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against carrying out a retaliatory attack against Tehran, according to reports. REUTERS

“I don’t agree with that,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “I just think we should follow and have Israel’s back in the situation.”

“I don’t agree with the president. That doesn’t change anything that he’s a fantastic president, and I’m proud to stand with him and campaign for him and vote for him.”

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Plurality of Americans want Biden to toughen up on Israel: poll

By Ryan King

A paltry 8% of Democrats felt Biden was “too tough” and 42% said that the president’s handling of the situation was “just right.”

Additionally, among the public writ large, 47% strongly support the US calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, while 20% somewhat support that call, 15% somewhat or strongly oppose it, and 17% are unsure.

President Joe Biden speaks at an event in Raleigh, N.C., March. 26, 2024.
A paltry 8% of Democrats felt Biden was “too tough” and 42% said that the president’s handling of the situation was “just right.” AP

Biden, 81, pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut a deal with Hamas for a cease-fire in exchange for hostages earlier this month. He wants a pause in fighting to send critical humanitarian aid to Gaza.

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Cardinal Dolan describes taking shelter from Iran’s missile attack in Israel

By Isabel Keane

Cardinal Timothy Dolan described taking shelter in Bethlehem from Iran’s missile attack on Israel, noting in a video that while things seemed “calm and bright” now that wasn’t the case overnight.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan described took shelter in Bethlehem from Iran’s missile attack on Israel. X/Cardinal Dolan

“This Sunday in Bethlehem all does seem calm and bright. And it is for us. We feel safe and secure,” He said in a video shared on X. “That wasn’t true in the middle of last night when the air raid sirens went off and we had to go down and seek security at Notre Dame Center.”

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How Israel defeated 99% of Iran’s missiles and drones — with the help of US and an unlikely ally

By Isabel Keane

Goliath, meet David's Sling.

Israel managed to shoot down 99% of the 300 deadly suicide drones and missiles that Iran launched at the Jewish state on Saturday night using an advanced air defense system known as David's Sling — in addition to an array of other anti-missile capabilities.

Flares from explosions in the sky over Tel Aviv as Israel's anti-missile system intercepts missiles and drones from Iran.
Flares from explosions in the sky over Tel Aviv as Israel's anti-missile system intercepts missiles and drones from Iran. Xinhua/Shutterstock

Israel also had help from the US, the UK and an unlikely Arab ally.

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Jordan says it intercepted flying objects that entered its airspace

By Reuters

Jordan intercepted some flying objects that entered its airspace on Saturday night to ensure the safety of its citizens, a cabinet statement said on Sunday.

Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday - its first direct attack on Israeli territory in a retaliatory strike that raises the threat of wider regional conflict.

Jordanian onlookers and security agents standing around the debris of a missile that the Jordanian forces intercepted over Amman amid an unprecedented Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel in the early hours of April 14, 2024.
Onlookers and security agents are standing around the debris of a missile that the Jordanian forces intercepted over Amman amid an unprecedented Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel on April 14, 2024. AFP via Getty Images

Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, had readied air defenses to intercept any drones or missiles that violated its territory, two regional security sources said.

"Some shrapnel fell in multiple places during that time without causing any significant damage or any injuries to citizens," the Jordan cabinet statement added.

US and British warplanes were involved in shooting down some of the Israel-bound drones over the Iraq-Syria border area, Israel's Channel 12 reported.

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