New Delhi: As violence escalates in West Asia, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated a call for restraint and protection of civilians, warning against the conflict taking on a wider regional dimension.

After Iran fired at Israel a day ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would "pay". Israel is claiming that Iran fired almost 200 missiles on October 1. This attack came after Israel began strikes on Lebanon and Yemen, after a year-long onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza, in what has been called a "genocide".

"We are deeply concerned at the escalation of security situation in West Asia and reiterate our call for restraint by all concerned and protection of civilians," India has said.

"It is important that the conflict doesn’t take a wider regional dimension and we urge that all issues be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy," the MEA noted in a statement.

The MEA has also issued an advisory against “all non-essential travel to Iran”, adding to request those Indians living in the country to “remain vigilant” and maintain contact with the embassy in Tehran.

Meanwhile, Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that the missile launches were an act of "self-defence" as under Article 51 of the UN Charter, targeting solely military and security sites in charge of genocide in Gaza and Lebanon.

Iranian Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri warned that Tehran would target "all infrastructure" in Israel if its territory is attacked.

Al Jazeera has meanwhile reported Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group, as having said that it attacked and repulsed Israeli troops who infiltrated near the town of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon, and “inflicted losses and forced them to retreat”.

Israel has meanwhile attacked Lebanon afresh, also amping up attacks on Gaza – killing dozens and bombing an orphanage.

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