On the 18th (local time), two days after Pakistan was attacked by Iran, a border country, Iran officially warned that Pakistan had carried out a retaliatory airstrike, saying it was “unacceptable.” Iran, a nuclear-developed country, and Pakistan, an unofficial nuclear-possessing country, are showing strong stances even after a clash, raising concerns about an escalation of war.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement through the state-run IRNA news agency on this day, saying, “Defense of the people and territory is a red line that must not be crossed.” Regarding the death of at least nine people, including children and women, in Pakistan’s retaliatory strike early on the morning of the 18th, the company also announced, “We immediately began an internal investigation and requested an ‘immediate explanation’ from Pakistan.”
However, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a conciliatory gesture, saying, “We expect Pakistan, our brotherly neighbor, to prevent the establishment of bases by anti-Iranian terrorists in the country.” Two days ago, he emphasized the legitimacy of Iran’s attack on terrorist groups within Pakistani territory, saying it was “the border force’s duty.”
On the same day, U.S. President Joe Biden said, “We are assessing the current situation. He expressed concern, saying, “At this point, we cannot quickly judge where the situation will go.” It is known that the United States is communicating behind the scenes with both countries to prevent the conflict between Iran and Pakistan from worsening. The Taliban government in neighboring Afghanistan also advised, “The dispute must be resolved through diplomatic channels and dialogue.”
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a pro-Iran faction that has been under airstrikes by the U.S. and British joint forces since the 11th, continued their use of force on the 18th by firing missiles at a U.S.-flagged oil tanker. The Houthi rebels said, “Confronting the United States is an honor and a blessing,” and added, “We will continue to attack related merchant ships.” The U.S. military carried out its fifth attack on the Houthi rebel base in Yemeni territory on this day.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.