Iran has summoned the German and Austrian ambassadors following their governments’ condemnation of Tehran’s missile strikes on Israel, according to state media reports. This diplomatic move, reported by the IRNA news agency, was triggered by what Iran termed “unacceptable measures” by Germany and Austria in calling in Iranian envoys after the missile attacks.
Tehran’s foreign ministry defended the strikes, describing them as a “legitimate, responsible and effective” response to Israel’s aggression. These developments follow Israel’s declaration of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as “persona non grata” for his perceived failure to condemn Iran’s missile barrage during his statements on the Middle East conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel intensified its bombardment of Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday that its forces had hit Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in the Lebanese capital. This marks an escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, a group with strong influence in southern Lebanon, which has been under heavy bombardment in recent days.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that over 1,000 people have died in the bombings, with hundreds of thousands displaced. As Israel’s military shifted focus to secure its northern borders, they warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate over 20 villages and the city of Nabatiyeh, emphasizing the risk to civilians in the area.
On the Gaza front, Israel also reported that airstrikes conducted three months ago killed three senior Hamas leaders, including Rahwi Mushtaha, the head of the group’s governing body in Gaza.
Amid rising tensions, France condemned Israel’s decision to declare Guterres unwelcome, calling it “unjustified” and offering full support for the UN chief. European leaders, including the EU’s foreign policy head Josep Borrell, have also criticized the Israeli move, while the U.S. expressed concern over the decision.
Iran’s missile strikes on Israel, launched earlier this week, were a direct response to the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Quds Force commander Abbas Nilforoushan, and Hamas political figure Ismail Haniyeh, all of whom were reportedly killed in Israeli operations over the past months. This was only Iran’s second direct missile attack on Israel, the first occurring in April.
In response to escalating tensions, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has urged European airlines to avoid Iranian airspace until at least the end of October due to the heightened security risks.
As the conflict expands, both Israel and Hezbollah continue to engage in fierce confrontations along the border, with no signs of de-escalation in sight.
