STORY: Int'l community calls for de-escalation amid Iran-Israel tension
SHOOTING TIME: April 13-14, 2024
DATELINE: April 15, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:09
LOCATION: Jerusalem/Cairo/Damascus/UN Headquarters
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP 1 (English): WANG ZHUOLUN, Xinhua correspondent
2. phone footages of the Iran's missile and drone attack in Israel on the night of April 13
3. STANDUP 2 (English): Xie E, Xinhua correspondent
4. various of an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council held on April 14
5. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): Egyptian citizen
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): SUHAIL NAJM, Syrian citizen

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): WANG ZHUOLUN, Xinhua correspondent
"Here I'm near the Israeli Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem.
After several hours of discussion Sunday evening, Israel's war cabinet has yet to decide on how and when to respond to Iran's missile and drone attack.
Spokesman of Israel Defense Forces Daniel Hagari said in a press briefing Sunday evening that a defensive coalition of Israel and its international partners successfully thwarted a large-scale attack from Iran."

Iran and allied armed groups launched coordinated drone and missile strikes on Israel late Saturday night in retaliation for a deadly assault on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1, which killed seven Iranians, including two military commanders.

The Iranian strike has intensified concerns of a wider war in a region already embroiled in the six-month Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

The international community has urged to prevent further escalation in the region.

STANDUP 2 (English): Xie E, Xinhua correspondent
"UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for maximum restraint after Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel over the latter's deadly assault on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
Guterres made the remarks at an emergency meeting of the Security Council. He said, 'The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate. Now is the time for maximum restraint.'
Dai Bing, the charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, also called for calm and restraint at the meeting."

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Sunday on social media platform X that "Iran at this moment no more seeks to continue its defensive operations, but if necessary, it will not hesitate in protecting its legitimate interests against any new aggression."

Meanwhile, countries across the Middle East also called for restraint among related parties.

In response to the current situation, residents in the region have expressed their wish for peace.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): Egyptian citizen
"The decision for peace is in the hands of Israel and the Arabs, and the Arabs welcome peace."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): SUHAIL NAJM, Syrian citizen
"We felt fear, but as the Syrian people, we wish for peace. After 13 years of war, we wish for peace for everyone. Hopefully, things won't escalate further than this."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus and UN Headquarters.
(XHTV)