Morning in the Middle East. Here’s what you should know

Morning in the Middle East. Here’s what you should know

The United States will impose new sanctions targeting Tehran after Iran’s massive attack on Israel over the weekend, according to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Most of the 300 missiles, the majority of which are believed to have been launched from inside Iranian territory, were intercepted by Israel and its allies. Iran said it attacked Israel in retaliation for an Israeli attack on its diplomatic compound in Syria.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Biden administration would use sanctions “to further disrupt nefarious activities and destabilize the Iranian regime.”

Here are the latest developments in the region:

• Israel weighs response: Israel’s war cabinet ended its fifth meeting to discuss a response to the Iranian attack without a conclusion. They are studying military and diplomatic options. The US expects the Israeli reaction to be limited in scope, sources told CNN. Regional leaders and Israel’s allies have called for restraint.
• Iraq denies involvement: Israel said some of Iran’s weekend attacks were launched from Iraq, but Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani denied that to CNN.
• UN blocks Iran FM: The US will restrict the movement of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his delegation while they are in New York this week, sources told CNN.

Iran’s attack on Israel: Which countries were involved?
About 350 rockets were fired into Israel overnight into Sunday by Iran and its allies in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. The attack included about 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Almost all of them have been intercepted, according to the Israeli military and the White House. The United States, Jordan and Britain also took part in intercepting the attack.
Refugee camp killings: In Gaza, strikes targeting the Al-Maghazi refugee camp killed at least 13 people, including seven children, according to hospital officials.

• Cost of the war: The US Navy says it has spent nearly $1 billion on cannons to thwart “more than 130 direct attacks” on US military and merchant ships in the Middle East over the past six months.
• Cross-border shooting: Israel’s military says it has killed three Hezbollah fighters, including two commanders, in an airstrike in southern Lebanon.
• Child death in focus: The US will go to Israel with new information from a Washington Post report that contradicts the results of an Israeli investigation into the death of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza.
• Investigation problem: The UN Commission of Inquiry has accused Israel of actively obstructing its efforts to gather evidence from victims and direct witnesses of the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel.
• Airdrops continue: US military sends more aid to Gaza, this time about 25,300 food equivalents. Humanitarian organizations have warned that airdrops are “a good photo opportunity but a poor way to deliver aid.”