The Australian/Rolling Coverage/17.4.2024

Iraq denies missiles launched from within its borders/Anne Barrowclough
Iran has denied Israeli claims that drones or missiles were launched from its territory during Iran’s attack on Israel.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Iran had informed Baghdad ahead of the attack, as it did other countries in the region.
However he said that while drones and ballistic missiles flew through Iraqi airspace, they were not launched from within the country.
“Our position is clear, and we will not allow Iraq to be thrown into the arena of conflict,” Mr al-Sudani said in a statement.
On Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Herzi Halevi said ballistic and cruise missiles, armed drones and rockets “were fired from Iranian soil — as well as Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon — towards the State of Israel.”
Female observers left exposed in attack/Staff Writers
The Israeli military’s female observers, who were notoriously left undefended during the October 7 massacre, were again reportedly exposed during the Iran attack on Sunday.
Female soldiers in Judea and Samaria – many of whose fellow observers had been murdered by Hamas on October 7 – were ordered to remain at in their barracks, but told to “lie on the floor and put their hands on their heads, since there is no protected area in their military barracks,” state broadcaster Kan reports.
Pressure builds on Netanyahu to hit Iran hard/Agency writers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to hit Iran hard for its unprecedented weekend attack, while Western allies caution against action that will draw the region into war.
Mr Netanyahu said overnight on Monday (Tuesday AEST) that Iran threatened world peace and the international community must stand united to face the ­Islamic republic’s aggression.
The Prime Minister has yet to define any shape, form, or timing for a response to the first direct Iranian attack on Israeli soil in which more than 300 drones and missiles were launched on Saturday night in response to a deadly April 1 strike on the Islamic republic’s consulate in Damascus, largely attributed to Israel.
The Iranian government said on Monday that the “era of strategic patience is over”.
Further targeting Iranian personnel and assets “will be met with a direct and punishing response”. However, it said it considered the matter “concluded” unless ­Israel chose to commit “another mistake”.
Faced with allies urging caution on one side and politicians at home calling for a hard response on the other, Mr Netanyahu has convened his war cabinet twice and called US President Joe Biden.
He has not spoken publicly of the matter since Sunday, when he praised the Israeli defence in a short post on X.
War cabinet concludes with no decision over strike
Israel’s war cabinet has concluded its latest meeting without any announcement of when or how it will retaliate against Iran.
An Israeli source told ABC News (US) a range of options was still on the table.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Iran would not get off “scot-free” after Tehran and its allies launched a barrage of over 300 missiles, drones and rockets at Israel at the weekend.
“We cannot stand still from this kind of aggression,” Rear Adm. Hagari said, a day after Israel’s military chief vowed there would be “a response” to Iran’s offensive.
Iran said its attack was an act of self-defence following a deadly Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria, and that it would consider the matter “concluded” unless Israel retaliated.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi warned that “the slightest action against Iran’s interests will definitely be met with a severe, extensive and painful response”.
US President Joe Biden has stressed that “the United States is committed to Israel’s security” and wants to prevent the conflict from spreading.
Washington, Israel’s top ally and arms supplier, has made clear it will not join Israel in any attack on their common adversary Iran, a senior US official said.
AFP
Israel decides on how to strike Iran/Anne Barrowclough
Israel has reportedly decided on the method of its strike against Iran in retaliation for the mass drone and missile attack at the weekend, but will not say when it will happen.
Amid reports Jerusalem may hit Iran’s proxies rather than a direct strike on the country, officials told The Jerusalem Post they had not decided on the timing of an attack yet.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Herzi Halevi suggested it wouldn’t happen this week, telling troops at an air defence battery: “We are enabling a home front policy to at least give citizens this Passover week to live almost like normal because we completely trust you and your readiness.”
As the US and European leaders urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use caution, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on Mr Netanyahu to allow ‘calm heads’ to prevail.
In a call Tuesday afternoon local time, Mr Sunak stressed that “significant escalation was in no one’s interest and would only deepen insecurity in the Middle East. This was a moment for calm heads to prevail”, the PM’s office said.