Amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, briefing him on the evolving situation in the region.
PM Modi confirmed the conversation in a post on X, stating, “Received a phone call from PM Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. He briefed me on the evolving situation. I shared India’s concerns and emphasized the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region.”
Israel’s Pre-Emptive Strike and Iran’s Retaliation
The call followed Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Iran early Friday, targeting sites linked to Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation, which was carried out under ‘Operation Rising Lion’, aimed at countering perceived threats from Tehran.
According to media reports, the strike resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, and Iran’s Emergency Command head.
In response, Iran launched a counteroffensive, deploying over 100 drones targeting various sites across Israel. However, Israeli defence systems swiftly intercepted the aerial threats.Earlier in the day, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict, urging both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further destabilization of the region.
In an official statement, the MEA emphasized, “We are deeply concerned at the recent developments between Iran and Israel. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation, including reports related to attacks on nuclear sites.”
