“Possible developments” in Middle East on agenda
Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has today called a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence for Tuesday to discuss the situation in the Middle East following Iran’s unprecedented missile attack on Israel last night.
According to a note published on the official site of the presidency: “Taking into account the current situation and possible developments, the president has decided to convene a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence for Tuesday, April 16, at 6 pm at the Palace of Belém”.
Under the terms of the Constitution, the Higher Council for National Defence is a specific collegiate body chaired by the president, which consults on matters relating to national defence and the organisation, functioning and discipline of the Armed Forces.
It is made up of the prime minister, ministers of defence, foreign affairs, internal administration, finance and those responsible for industry, energy, transport and communications, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the Chiefs of the Navy, Army and Air Force.
The Superior Council for National Defence also includes representatives of the Republic and the presidents of the governments of the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, the speaker of parliament’s National Defence Commission and two other members of parliament elected to this body by a two-thirds majority
At the last meeting, held on February 28, a unanimous favourable opinion was given to proposals for adjusting the forces deployed for 2024. An assessment was made of the support that Portugal has been providing to Ukraine.
Iran’s attack on Israel, in which, according to Tel Aviv, more than 300 drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles were used, came two weeks after Israel purportedly bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing several members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
According to the Israeli army, of the 170 or so drones (unmanned aircraft) that Iran launched before midnight on Saturday, none hit Israeli territory, and 25 of the 30 or so cruise missiles and almost all of the “more than 120” ballistic missiles were also intercepted.
It has since transpired that Israel was helped in fending off last night’s attack by not only the United States, but France, Jordan and the United Kingdom.
Tehran meantime has said that the Iranian attack is over. The country has “no wish to continue it”. But if Israel ‘retaliates’ – and if the United States backs this retaliation – Tehran has reportedly threatened to “hit US bases”.
Reporting on the Iranian threat, Times of Israel cites “unnamed Israeli official as saying there would be a “significant response” to the attack.
Source material: LUSA/ Guardian/ Times of Israel/ Firstpost
