Cairo, Egypt - October 27, 2024

Israeli strikes against Iran may lead to further tension escalation in the region, especially amid ongoing conflicts in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, and turn the Middle East into an "uncontrollable fireball," warned experts in Egypt on Sunday.

Strong explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran in the early hours of Saturday, as Israel confirmed that it had launched precise strikes on military targets in Iran in response to months of continuous attacks from the country.

Abdel Fattah, an Egyptian expert in international relations, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the region's fragility amid persisting conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

The Egyptian Foreign Affairs Ministry called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, and also a prisoner swap agreement, saying that is the only way to ease the tension.

The strikes came after several public threats from Israel. The previous threats include attacks on Iran’s military facilities in response to Iran’s Oct. 1 missile attacks.

Iran launched some 200 ballistic missiles targeting Tel Aviv’s key locations. Iran said the attack in early October was in retaliation for Israel's assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan.

Shotlist:
Cairo, Egypt - Oct 27, 2024:
FILE: Cairo, Egypt - April 6, 2019
1. Egyptian national flag;
FILE: Cairo, Egypt - July 24, 2022
2. Egyptian national flag in front of building;
FILE: Cairo, Egypt - Date Unknown
3. Cityscape, traffic;
Cairo, Egypt - Oct 27，2024
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hani Al-Jamal, researcher in Political and Regional Affairs:
"Egypt's concern about this situation stems from its rich experience in the region. Egypt believes that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran could potentially draw in international powers from other regions, turning the area into an uncontrollable fireball.";
Tehran, Iran - Oct 26, 2024
5. Tehran's air defense system intercepting targets over Iranian military camp;
Cairo, Egypt - Oct 27， 2024
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bashir Abdel Fattah, expert in international relations:
"The main reasons for concern about this attack are as follows. Firstly, Israel has for the first time declared a strike against Iran's hinterland, marking a shift in the conflict between Israel and Iran from proxy and covert wars to direct conflict. Secondly, this attack occurred amid tensions in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The region can no longer bear any further escalation of conflict.";
Tehran, Iran - Oct 26, 2024
7. Interception of missiles seen from apartment rooftop;
Cairo, Egypt - Oct 27，2024
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bashir Abdel Fattah, expert in international relations:
"Egypt has always believed that peace and stability in the Middle East require addressing the root causes of issues rather than just treating the symptoms. The root of the issue lies in Israel's current occupation and attacks on the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and southern Lebanon. Therefore, to ease conflicts and reduce tensions, all Israeli attacks should be halted, and agreements should be reached for exchange of prisoners. This would pave the way for rebuilding and restoring humanitarian aid and resuming negotiations to achieve the goal of establishing the State of Palestine based on the June 4,1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.";
Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate, West Bank - Recent
9. Mukataa compound;
10. Various of national flag of Palestine;
FILE: Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate, West Bank - April 2024
11. Traffic, pedestrians;
Tulkarm, West Bank - Recent
12. Various of destroyed buildings, people walking in ruins;
Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Recent
13. Various of ruins of buildings.

[Restricrion - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV]