Events for 18 October 1996 
Morning 
 
Current Weather: 50 degrees, Clear skies 
Trend Constant: 0 
Weather Trend: Increasing cloud cover and a low of 37 tonight. 
 
0800 -  A Rueters reporter working out of the Iranian Caspian Sea town of Astara reports via CNN a Russian airborne operation at a bridge ten miles away.      The 
Russian MOD had originally scheduled a news conference for 0900 local time, but the news of the invasion forced MOD spokesmen to reschedule for an earlier time.
The Reuters report put together from refugees and Russian sources showed a military operation that was brutal from theoutset.  Reports that more than 400 Iranian 
casualties caused by the Russian attack could not be confirmed.    The reporter also said he was detained by Russian security troops and was not allowed more than two 
kilometers out of the town which was close to the bridge the Russians siezed.

0830 - CNN reports that reporters from the town of Tabriz were not allowed to travel north to Astara to report on the Russian incursion, but they were not told why. 
However, a report was filed saying that refugees from villages on the Russo-Iranian border were told to go back home ebcause if their presence interfered with Iranian 
army units in deployment they would be run down.
 
0830 - The Russian MOD canceled its news conferences until 1300 today.  Spokement would not confirm the Russian operation.
 
0900 - Iran's MOD announced that Russian had invaded Iran at 0400 hrs this morning.  The MOD could not confirm the casualty count, but spokesmen said the operation
 was brutal and lightening fast.  It was called a brutal act of terrorism.

0900 - Iran's foreign ministry issued a statement calling for an emergency meeting of the Arab league and the United Nations and called on all nations to condemn the 
invasion.
0900 - The United States State Department condemned the invasion as unfortunate and called on the Russians and the Iranian to open up talks.
 
1000 - The NATO Secretary General condemned the Russian invasion but also warned that unilateral interference would be viewed seriously.  This was seen as a 
warning to Turkey and Bosnia

1100 - An emergency meeting of the Arab league was announced for 19 October in Cairo.