President Prabowo Ready to Mediate Between US and Iran as Israeli Attack Kills 24 Students
PRESIDENT Prabowo Subianto of the Republic of Indonesia is prepared to act as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. This was stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, 28 February, following US attacks against Iran.
“Indonesia calls upon all parties to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue and diplomacy,” the ministry said in a statement on X.
“The Indonesian Government expresses its willingness to facilitate dialogue to restore conducive security conditions and, should both parties agree, President Indonesia is prepared to travel to Tehran to conduct mediation efforts.”
Multiple recent developments have followed the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with key updates as follows:
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic movement that has been in conflict with Israel for two years, condemned the continued Israeli and US attacks on its ally Iran on Saturday. In a statement, Hamas said: “The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) most strongly condemns the Zionist-American aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and affirms that this Zionist-American aggression is a direct attack against the entire region and an assault on its security, stability, and sovereignty.”
Russia’s Embassy in Israel issued an urgent advisory on Saturday, calling upon its citizens to leave the country given the sharp deterioration in security conditions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. “We recommend that those who are able to do so leave Israel until the situation returns to normal,” the embassy stated on Telegram, urging Russian nationals remaining in the country to remain vigilant and follow security instructions from Israeli authorities.
US air defence systems engaged in an exchange of fire with drones above Erbil in northern Iraq on Saturday, according to AFP reporting. Explosions were heard and smoke was observed in the sky near the US consulate in Erbil. Influential pro-Iran Iraqi group Kataeb Hezbollah warned on Saturday that they would soon launch attacks against US bases following airstrikes that killed two fighters at an Iraqi military base hosting the group.
A civilian was killed in an Iranian strike that struck Abu Dhabi on Saturday, according to the UAE Ministry of Defence, as Tehran launched strikes across the Gulf in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks. The ministry reported missile debris falling in residential areas of Abu Dhabi, resulting in one death of an Asian national civilian.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister told his Iranian counterpart in a telephone call on Saturday that Islamabad strongly condemns the unjustified attacks against Iran following the US-Israeli strikes. “Pakistan calls for an immediate halt to escalation through the urgent resumption of diplomacy,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar stated.
The Israeli military deployed search and rescue teams to multiple locations across the country following reports of projectile impacts after Iran launched missiles toward Israel on Saturday. “Search and rescue forces are operating at multiple locations throughout the country where reports of projectile impacts have been received. The public is requested to continue following instructions from the Home Front Command,” the military said.
Qatar condemned Iran’s missile strikes on its territory on Saturday after explosions were heard across Doha. The country’s Foreign Ministry stated it strongly condemns the targeting of Qatari territory by Iranian ballistic missiles, viewing this as a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty. It added that it reserves the full right to respond to this attack.
An Israeli strike hit a school in Hormozgan province in southern Iran near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, killing 24 students, according to a provincial official cited by state media. “The number of students killed at Shajare Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, Hormozgan has reached 24,” the district governor stated, according to state television, after another provincial official said the deaths resulted from an Israeli attack.
Military operations targeting civilian locations and vital infrastructure in Tehran are believed to have primarily aimed at Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Indonesian Embassy in Tehran continues to monitor the security situation following the strikes on Iran and is ensuring that hundreds of Indonesian citizens remain under observation and are safe.