UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting Amid Escalating Israel-Iran Tensions

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene an emergency meeting today (Monday) at the request of Iran, following Israel’s recent missile strikes in response to an October 1 attack from Tehran.

The Swiss presidency of the UNSC announced on Sunday that the meeting would proceed as requested by Iran, with support from Algeria, China, and Russia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday that the recent “precise and powerful” strikes on Iran had successfully met their objectives, as Israel intensified its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

Last Saturday, Israeli aircraft targeted military installations in Iran, raising concerns about a potential escalation of conflict in the Middle East and prompting global calls for restraint.

Netanyahu emphasized that the airstrikes were a retaliation for an earlier Iranian missile attack on Israel, which involved around 200 missiles, most of which were intercepted.

“The attack in Iran was precise and powerful, achieving all of its objectives,” Netanyahu stated during a speech commemorating the anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year.

During the ceremony, Netanyahu faced disruptions from relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, forcing him to remain silent for over a minute during the live broadcast.

There is mounting public and diplomatic pressure on Netanyahu to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. Israeli spy chief David Barnea is set to travel to Qatar on Sunday for discussions aimed at restarting negotiations for a hostage deal, as reported by AFP.

Families of the hostages have urged the Israeli government to facilitate an agreement following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar earlier this month, whom Israeli and U.S. officials identified as a significant barrier to a deal.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remarked that “painful concessions” would be essential to ensure the hostages’ release, stressing that military action alone would not fulfill the country’s objectives in the ongoing conflict.