World leaders on Sunday expressed concerns over the drones and missiles launched on Israeli territory by Iran in the Islamic Republic’s first direct attacks on the Jewish nation as threats of war loomed.
The international community has called for caution even as the United Nations prepares to address the matter with diplomacy.
Iran said it launched the missiles on Saturday to retaliate alleged Israeli attacks on its Consulate in Lebanon, which killed Iranian generals and damaged the consulate early this month. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the attack.
However, the Israeli forces in a statement on Sunday said the “vast majority” of missiles launched from Iran were intercepted outside of Israel’s borders, stressing that only a few landed in Israeli territory and they caused minimal damage.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari was quoted by AlJazeera as saying that there was a direct hit on the Nevatim airbase by ballistic missiles but said it caused only “minor damage to infrastructure” and the base remains fully operational, adding that a young girl was injured in the attack.
“Ballistic missiles, only a small number … single digits … fell in the base and around,” Mr Hagari said in a morning briefing. “A direct hit with minor damage that doesn’t do anything to the operation of the base.”
Mr Hagari further described the use of ballistic missiles as an “escalatory factor.” When asked about Israel’s options for an offensive response, he said Israel has plans and was considering its options.
“We have plans, the situation is still ongoing. We are assessing the situation, we are showing the cabinet the plans, and we are ready to do what is necessary for the defence of Israel.”
“I think Iran meant to get results and didn’t get results. The ballistic missiles are an escalatory factor. And when they used these numbers they wanted more significant results than what happened,” Mr Hagari was quoted as saying by the UK Guardian.
There are indications that Iran will not attack Israel again unless Israel or the US retaliate for the Iranian strike on Israel. Iran also said it considers its attacks as sufficient retaliation for the attack on its consulate.
Reactions
President Biden
US President Joe Biden condemned the Iranian attacks and pledged a coordinated G7 diplomatic response. He said the US had helped Israel take down “nearly all” of the attacking drones and missiles.
Mr Biden said he reiterated the US support for Israel’s security in a call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks – sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel,” Biden said in a statement by the White House.
China
China said it is deeply concerned about escalation after Iran’s attacks, a spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said in remarks published on its website.
“China calls on relevant parties to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of tensions,” the spokesperson said in response to a question about Iran’s strikes.
This round of tensions is a “spillover from the Gaza conflict”, and quelling that conflict is “a top priority”, the spokesperson added.
Jordan
Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said any escalation in the region would lead to “dangerous paths” and said that there was a need to reduce escalation by all parties.
Mr Khasawneh said the country’s armed forces would confront any attempt by any party that sought to endanger the kingdom’s security.
Russia
Russia said it was extremely concerned by Iranian strikes on Israel and called on all parties to exercise restraint.
“We express our extreme concern over another dangerous escalation in the region,” Russia’s foreign ministry said. “We call on all parties involved to exercise restraint.”
“We have repeatedly warned that the numerous unresolved crises in the Middle East, primarily in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, which are often fueled by irresponsible provocative actions, will lead to an increase in tension,” the ministry said.
Germany
“We strongly condemn the ongoing attack, which could plunge an entire region into chaos. Iran and its proxies must stop this immediately,” Al Jazeera quoted German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as saying.
“Israel offers our full solidarity at this time.”
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement voicing its concern at the “military escalation” and calling on “all parties to exercise utmost restraint and spare the region and its peoples from the dangers of war”.
It urged the UN Security Council “to assume its responsibility towards maintaining international peace and security.”
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday, at the request of Israel’s ambassador to the UN, the council’s president said in a statement to the media.
Spain
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain also called for restraint, saying on Twitter (formerly X): “We are following with the greatest concern the evolution of the situation in the Middle East. One must at all cost avoid a regional escalation.”
United Kingdom
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described Iran’s actions as “reckless.”
“Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its backyard,” Sunak said in a statement posted on X.
