Iran

Over the course of Saturday night, Iran and its affiliated groups from Yemen, Syria, and Iraq launched an onslaught of over 200 projectiles towards Israel. This included a barrage of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

President Biden, accompanied by top officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, CIA Director William Burns, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, engaged in a comprehensive hour-long discussion to assess the situation.

The National Security Council's spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, reiterated the solidarity of the US with the people of Israel and their defense against the Iranian aggression. Watson stated that the attack is anticipated to unfold gradually over several hours.

Following Israeli airstrikes on Iran's embassy in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of seven Iranian officers, tensions escalated, prompting heightened alerts in Israel. Images released by the military showcased General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of CENTCOM, engaging in a strategic assessment session in Tel Aviv alongside Halevi and other IDF commanders.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Iran's UN mission emphasized that while there are no legal barriers prohibiting Iran from engaging in ballistic missile sales, the country chooses to abstain from such transactions out of a sense of moral obligation amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Iran's state media, cited by Iran international media on X, announced the operation, stating, "In an armed clash within Pakistani territory, military forces have eliminated Ismail Shahbakhsh, a senior commander of the Jaish al-Adl militant group, along with several of his associates."

It's important to highlight that the 15-day stay cannot be extended beyond the allotted period, as clarified in the statement. However, this visa-free entry provision is exclusively applicable to tourists and does not extend to individuals traveling to Iran for business or educational reasons, who must apply for visas under the respective categories.

During Sunday's attack, a one-way drone targeted the base on Jordan's border with Syria, resulting in the tragic loss of three US troops and injuring at least 34 others.

Abdollahian's visit to Pakistan is aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two nations.

The armed assailants responsible for the attack have not been identified as of now. The incident adds to recent tensions between Pakistan and Iran, triggered by a series of events. On January 16, Iran conducted missile and drone strikes within Pakistan's Balochistan province, ostensibly targeting the terrorist group Jaish ul-Adl. In response, Pakistan condemned the "violation of its airspace" and recalled its Ambassador from Iran.