The US, Britain and the European Union called for ‘de-escalation’ after Israel on Saturday hit military targets across Iran in deadly retaliatory strikes as Muslim countries and Russia blamed Israel for exacerbating the conflict.
The United States urged Iran to stop attacking Israel and break the cycle of violence ‘without further escalation’.
British prime minister Keir Starmer called for ‘de-escalation’ and said Iran should not respond to Israel’s strikes.
The European Union warned against ‘the dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliations’, which could lead to a full-scale regional war.
‘While acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defence, the EU calls on all parties to exercise utmost restraint to avoid an uncontrollable escalation, which is in no one’s interest,’ the 27-nation bloc said in a statement.
Russia urged all sides to exercise restraint and warned of a ‘catastrophic scenario’.Â
‘We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint, stop the violence and prevent events from developing into a catastrophic scenario,’ foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, warning of an ‘explosive escalation’.
Saudi Arabia condemned Israel and warned against any further expansion of the conflict in the Middle East.
Bahrain, which normalised relations with Israel in 2020, condemned the ‘military operation’ against Iran, expressing ‘deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions’ in the region.
Syria expressed its ‘solidarity’ with its ally Iran. The foreign ministry said it supported ‘Iran’s legitimate right to defend itself and protect its territory and the lives of its citizens’.
Iraq accused Israel of expanding conflict in the Middle East and denounced global inaction.
‘The occupying Zionist entity continues its aggressive policies and widening the conflict in the region through blatant attacks that it carries out with impunity,’ government spokesman Basim Alawadi said in a statement, citing ‘the international community’s silence’ on Israeli actions.
Jordan said the strikes were ‘in violation of international law and (Iran’s) sovereignty, and a dangerous escalation that leads to more tension in the region.’
Turkey condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran and called for an end to what it said was Israel’s ‘terror’ in the region.
‘Putting an end to the terror created by Israel in the region has become an historic task for the establishment of international peace and security,’ the Turkish foreign ministry said.
Pakistan condemned Israel’s strikes, saying it bore ‘full responsibility’ for escalating the conflict in the Middle East.
Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas blasted Israel.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Iran against any ‘escalation’ after Israel struck Iranian military targets.
The Algerian foreign ministry ‘strongly condemns and denounces’ Israel’s military strikes on Iran, which it called ‘heinous aggression’, and called on the international community to halt Israel from escalating conflict in the region.
Neighouring Tunisia similarly issued a statement warning of ‘severe consequences’ of Israel’s strikes on Iran and calling on ‘the international community to urgently assume its responsibilities to put an end to this reckless approach’.
