On April 14, 2024, people gathered in Tehran, Iran, to support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ attack on Israel. Iran launched a direct attack on Israel late Saturday, about two weeks after Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Syria.
Majeed Saidi | Getty Images News | Getty Images
World leaders called for calm after Iran launched a massive airstrike on Israel on Saturday, with many expressing deep concern about the prospect of a wider regional conflict.
The Israeli attack, which the Israel Defense Forces said involved more than 300 drones and missiles targeting military targets in Israel, heightened fears of a spillover conflict in a region already grappling with an ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
The attack caused only limited damage, and the Israeli military said its Iron Dome air defense system intercepted 99% of drones and missiles launched by Iran.
Iran said its air offensive was in response to an Israeli attack on its embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus earlier this month.
“We cannot comment on claims of a Damascus attack,” an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman told CNBC on Sunday.
Ahead of a war cabinet meeting on Monday, Israel pledged to “demand a price” from Iran in response to Saturday’s attack. Analysts said they were unsure of the exact timing and extent of such retaliation.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday explain He condemned “in the strongest possible terms” Iran’s unprecedented air strikes on Israeli military installations.
Biden added that the United States “will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take any action necessary to protect our people.”
His comments came as some senior U.S. officials It is said According to NBC News, there are concerns that Israel may soon respond to Iranian drone and missile attacks and trigger a broader regional conflict.
Biden over the weekend reaffirmed the White House’s “ironclad” commitment to Israel’s security and has privately expressed concern about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to draw the United States into a broader conflict. NBC News Sundayciting three people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.
CNBC could not independently verify the report.
“Prelude to World War III”
In South America, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an “urgent meeting” of the United Nations and “immediate commitment to peace”.
“This is foreseeable; we are now in the prelude to World War III, and this is the time when humanity should rebuild its economy to achieve rapid decarbonization goals,” Petro said.
“America’s virtual support for genocide has set the world on fire. Everyone knows how the war started, but no one knows how it ended.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro meets with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (not in photo) at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Argentine President Javier Milley said his office expressed “solidarity and unwavering commitment” to Israel following the Iranian attack.
“The Argentine Republic recognizes the right of state and people to self-defense and firmly supports the State of Israel in defending its sovereignty, especially against regimes that promote terror and seek to destroy Western civilization,” Milai said.
‘No one wants to see more bloodshed’
European leaders have harshly condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and vowed to work to de-escalate the situation.
French President Emmanuel Macron said: “I condemn in the strongest terms this unprecedented attack by Iran on Israel, which threatens to destabilize the region.” explain Sunday on social media platform X.
“France is working with partners to de-escalate tensions and calls on all parties to exercise restraint.”
On April 14, 2024, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a statement at 10 Downing Street in London, England, regarding Iran’s overnight attack on Israel.
Wpa Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images
German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock on Saturday explain Germany “strongly” condemned the attack and warned it could “plunge the entire region into chaos”.
“Iran and its proxies must stop this behavior immediately. Israel has our full solidarity at this time,” Bellbok said via X, according to an NBC translation.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak explain On Saturday, he condemned “in the strongest possible terms” Iran’s “reckless” attacks on Israel, adding that the country would “continue to defend” Israel’s security.
“Iran has once again demonstrated its intention to sow chaos in its own backyard,” Sunak said in a statement.
He added: “We are working urgently with our allies to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.”
France and Britain intercepted part of an Iranian attack on Israel on Saturday.
“The highest degree of restraint”
In the Middle East and North Africa region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Express Expressed “deep concern” about the development of military escalation in the region “and the seriousness of its impact”.
In a statement published on Sunday via
Egypt explain It expressed “deep concern” about Iran’s offensive and called for “maximum restraint to avoid further instability and tension in the region and its people.”
“Egypt believes that the dangerous escalation currently being experienced in the Iran/Israel arena is nothing more than a direct result of Egypt’s repeated warnings to Israel about the dangers of a war in Gaza leading to an expansion of the conflict in the region.” The ministry said on X, according to a translation: Vegas Strip, and the provocative military operations underway in the area.
“The latest spread of conflict in Gaza”
In Asia, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson explain On Sunday, Beijing expressed “deep concern” over the escalating tensions in the region and called on all parties involved to “maintain calm and restraint.”
“The current situation is the latest spillover of the conflict in Gaza,” the spokesman said in response to a question about the Iranian attack.
China calls on the international community, especially influential countries, to play a constructive role in regional peace and stability.
According to Kyodo News, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa delivered a speech at a press conference in Tokyo, Japan on April 2, 2024, announcing the resumption of funding to the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, explain The country is “deeply concerned by these attacks, which further worsen the current situation in the Middle East and strongly condemns this escalation”.
“Japan has been strongly urging all parties involved to calm the situation because peace and stability in the Middle East are also extremely important to Japan,” Kamikawa said in a statement on Sunday.
About The Author
