Israel demands UN Security Council hold emergency meeting amid Iran attack

WASHINGTON

The Israeli UN mission demanded a Security Council meeting Saturday following Iran's airborne attack against Israel.

"I confirm Israel's request to convene a meeting of the Security Council immediately to unequivocally condemn Iran for these grave violations and immediately act to designate the IRGC (Iran's Revolutionary Guards) as a terrorist organization,” Ambassador Gilad Erdan wrote on X.

The Iranian attack is a "serious threat" to global peace and security, he said, indicating that he expects the Council to use every means to take concrete action against Iran.

He added that Iran launched a direct attack from within its territory of more than 200 UAVs, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles at Israel in clear violation of the UN Charter and international law.

"Iran has also publicly taken pride in the attack. The attack is a severe and dangerous escalation," he said.

The permanent representative of Malta to the UN and president of the Security Council for April said they intend to hold the meeting at 4 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Iran began an airborne attack Saturday against Israel in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic facility in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The strike killed at least seven members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two top generals.

Tehran has accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed to respond. Tel Aviv has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack but it has for months carried out several strikes against Iranian targets across Syria.

Iran and Hezbollah, its main ally in Lebanon, have said the attack will not go unpunished.