**Iran Reacts Cautiously to Israeli Air Strikes**

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has opted for a cautious response following the recent Israeli air strikes on Iranian territory, advising that the event should neither be exaggerated nor downplayed. While refraining from promising immediate retaliation, Khamenei emphasized the power and determination of the Iranian people, leaving decisions for future actions to the nation's authorities.

The strikes, which resulted in the deaths of at least four Iranian soldiers, prompted a sober response from President Masoud Pezeshkian. He assured that Iran would formulate an "appropriate response" but maintained that Iran is not seeking war. According to Pezeshkian, the primary focus remains on defending the rights and interests of the Iranian nation.

Israel justified its actions by stating that they targeted military sites across Iran in response to an earlier incident where nearly 200 ballistic missiles were launched towards Israel on October 1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the strikes a success, claiming they had severely damaged Iran's air defense and missile production capabilities.

Official Iranian reports have sought to minimize the perceived impact of the strikes, stating that most incoming missiles were intercepted and that those which weren't caused only limited damage. Iran's cautious public messaging seems aimed at reassuring its citizens amid escalating hostilities.

The U.S. had cautioned Israel against striking Iran's oil and nuclear facilities, advice that was seemingly adhered to in the operation. Amidst these developments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi disclosed that Iran had received indications of an imminent attack hours before it occurred, although he provided no further details.

Western nations have urged Iran to resist retaliation to prevent further escalation, fearing it could spiral into a broader regional conflict. Meanwhile, state media in Iran has showcased footage of normal daily life to portray a sense of calm and control.

The tension between Israel and Iran extends beyond their borders, with Iranian-backed Hezbollah clashing with Israel in Lebanon and ongoing confrontations between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least eight people, according to local authorities, and Lebanon reported a total of 21 deaths from recent Israeli strikes.

In Gaza, an Israeli strike killed nine people in a school-turned-shelter located in the al-Shati refugee camp. Among the casualties were three Palestinian journalists, as confirmed by Palestinian media and Reuters.

Meanwhile, in Israel, a truck drove into a bus stop near a military base north of Tel Aviv, resulting in one death and injuring at least 30 people, in what authorities suspect to be a terror attack.

Amidst the turmoil, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has proposed a two-day ceasefire in Gaza, suggesting a potential exchange of four Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Though intended as a step towards more permanent peace negotiations, his proposal may face hurdles as a Hamas official stated that their demands for a complete ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a substantive prisoner swap remain unchanged and non-negotiable.