Middle East Conflict: UAE, Saudi Reportedly Informed US Of Iran's Attack On Israel

Saudi royal family website seemingly admits Kingdom's role in helping defend Israel

A report on the Saudi Arabia's royal family website has seemingly acknowledged that the Kingdom did play a role in the defensive system established by Israel, the U.S. and their allies to intercept most of Iran's drone and missile attacks.

The report on House of Saud cited a "source from the Saudi royal family" who spoke with Israel's national broadcaster Kan. "Iran is a nation that endorses terrorism, and the world should have curtailed it much earlier," the source was quoted as saying.

Israel's counterattack on Iran may come as early as today: Report

Israel may retaliate against Iran as early as today, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. and other western officials who think Israel may quickly respond to the Saturday barrage of drones and missiles.

British PM to speak with Netanyahu regarding prevention of escalation

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will speak with his Israeli counterpart Monday to discuss how further escalation can be prevented in the region after Iran's direct attacks in Israel, the UK leader said. "All sides must show restraint," he said.

Israeli warplanes attack Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon

Israeli fighter jets struck four paramilitary infrastructures and buildings belonging to Iranian-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon overnight, the IDF said Monday.

Time for world to face 'empire of evil in Tehran: Israeli president

Herzog said Sunday night that after Iran's direct attack on Israel, the "free world" should stand up to Tehran. The world should "understand there is an empire of evil in Tehran, which has its proxies laid all over the region and terror cells over the world," he said.

"It's about time that the world faces this empire of evil in Tehran and make it clear to the Iranian regime that this cannot pass by," he said.

UAE, Saudi Arabia passed information discreetly to US regarding Iranian attack: Report

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates discreetly gave information to the U.S. regarding Iran's attack on Israel, which helped Washington assist Israel in intercepting Tehran's aerial barrage, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed officials.

The information passed on by the Gulf states reportedly helped the U.S. and its allies come up with an effective defense system that thwarted most of the aerial attacks. Among the countries that Washington rallied to help intercept the drones and missiles were the United Kingdom and Jordan.

The report came as CENTCOM confirmed that it destroyed dozens of drones and missiles launched from Iran and Yemen toward Israel on Saturday and Sunday.

Israel, Iran trade blame for Middle East unrest

Israel and Iran at the United Nations Security Council meeting traded barbs over who is to blame for unrest in the region, with Israel saying Iran is "the number one global sponsor of terror" and has exposed itself as 'the destabilizer of the region and the world."

Iran, on the other hand, noted that it had "no choice" but to respond after the suspected Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy annex in Damascus earlier this month. It also said the Security Council should "address the real threat to international peace and security" which is Israel due to its military offensive in Gaza.

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Israel's European allies express solidarity

Aside from the U.S. and UK, other western allies of Israel have called on the country to exercise maximum restraint to prevent the situation with Iran to escalate further.

French President Emmanuel Macron joined Washington and London in calling for restraint event as he expressed solidarity with the people of Israel after Tehran's attacks.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany "stands by Israel" and said Germany "can only warn Iran in particular" to not risk further escalation in the region, as per a Google translation.

UN chief calls for maximum restraint

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for "maximum restraint," seemingly urging Israel to not take further retaliatory steps after Iran's attacks. "Now is the time to step back from the brink," he said.

UK stands with Israel in Hamas fight but Gaza situation still 'unacceptable': Cameron

The UK's foreign secretary on Sunday said it is Britain's "job to work with the Israeli government to support them in their campaign to get rid of Hamas" and the country understands Israel is adamant about living beside a territory governed by the perpetrators of the Oct. 7 massacre.

However, he said there were "very tough conversations" with Israel regarding the humanitarian situation the Gaza Strip. "I've been extremely tough with them about that, but I think rightly because the situation in Gaza is unacceptable," he said.

Humanitarian aid groups and a prominent food monitor have said that Gaza, particularly its northern region, is nearing famine levels. The UK and other western nations have urged the Israeli government to allow more aid to enter the war-torn enclave.

4 IDF soldiers injured in explosion near Israel-Lebanon border

Four soldiers were wounded, one in serious condition, following an "explosion of unknown origin" near the Israeli-Lebanese border, the IDF said Monday. They have been evacuated for treatment.

Multiple airlines suspend flights due to Israel-Iran tensions

Several airlines have canceled flights to and from some countries in the Middle East due to escalated tensions between Israel and Iran.

German airline Lufthansa has suspended its flights to and from Amman, Erbil and Tel Aviv through Monday, while flights to Tehran and Beirut will be suspended until later this week.

Other airlines that canceled flights in relation to the conflict through Monday were IAG-owned Iberia Express and Wizz Air. The Dutch arm of Air France KLM said all flights to and from Tel Aviv are suspended through Tuesday, while British EasyJet has paused operations to and from Tel Aviv without providing a timeframe for when it will resume operating in the area.

Biden tells Netanyahu US won't participate if Israel retaliates

The U.S. president told Netanyahu during a phone call late Saturday that the U.S. will not join Israel if it decides to retaliate against Iran. Biden reportedly told the Israeli prime minister that Saturday's attack by Tehran should be viewed as a victory since it only displayed Israel's military capacity.

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US destroys over 80 drones, 6 missiles from Iran and Yemen launched toward Israel

The U.S. military on Saturday and Sunday morning destroyed more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles "intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen," CENTCOM said late Sunday.

"CENTCOM remains postured to support Israel's defense against these dangerous actions by Iran," the U.S. army said.

This comes after Tehran launched more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israel Saturday, as per multiple outlets. Iran has vowed to retaliate following the killing of seven IRGC members, including two top generals in a suspected Israeli bombardment of the Iranian consulate annex in Syria's capital earlier this month.