<\/p>\n
Biden reiterates “ironclad” support for Israel; Saudi Arabia expresses concern at “military escalation”.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it launched<\/a> dozens of drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, in an attack that could lead to a major escalation between the regional archenemies.<\/p>\n Here are some of the reactions to the development so far.<\/p>\n Pakistan said it was watching the ongoing developments in the Middle East with \u201cdeep concern\u201d and called for \u201cutmost restraint\u201d.<\/p>\n In a statement<\/a>, the Foreign Office (FO) emphasised \u201cfor months, Pakistan has underlined the necessity of international efforts to prevent expansion of hostilities in the region and for a ceasefire in Gaza\u201d.<\/p>\n It recalled its earlier statement wherein it had \u201cpointed to the dangers of the attack on an Iranian consular office in Syria as a major escalation in an already volatile region\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s developments demonstrate the consequences of the breakdown of diplomacy,\u201d the FO said, adding that they also underlined the \u201cgrave implications in cases where the UN Security Council is unable to fulfil its responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is now critically urgent to stabilise the situation and restore peace. We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and move towards de-escalation,\u201d the FO said.<\/p>\n US President Joe Biden promised \u201cironclad\u201d support for Israel after holding an urgent meeting with top security officials.<\/p>\n \u201cI just met with my national security team for an update on Iran\u2019s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel\u2019s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,\u201d Biden said on X, posting<\/a> a picture of the meeting in the White House Situation Room.<\/p>\n In a separate statement<\/a> posted on X, he said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and told him that Tel Aviv had demonstrated a \u201cremarkable capacity\u201d to defend against and defeat unprecedented attacks.<\/p>\n He said he would convene G7 leaders tomorrow to coordinate a \u201cunited diplomatic response to Iran\u2019s brazen attack\u201d.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cAnd while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.\u201d<\/p>\n UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the \u201creckless\u201d strikes, which he said \u201crisk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said the UK and its allies would continue to stand up for Israel\u2019s security and that of regional partners.<\/p>\n \u201cAlongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The European Union\u2019s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the strikes were \u201can unprecedented escalation and a grave threat to regional security\u201d in a message<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned \u201cthe serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,\u201d he added, calling on parties to \u201cavoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East\u201d.<\/p>\n Cairo\u2019s foreign ministry expressed its \u201cdeep concern\u201d at the escalation of hostilities and called for \u201cmaximum restraint\u201d.<\/p>\n The ministry\u2019s statement also warned of the \u201crisk of the regional expansion of the conflict\u201d, and added that Egypt would be \u201cin direct contact with all parties to the conflict to try and contain the situation\u201d.<\/p>\n The Saudi foreign ministry issued a statement voicing its concern at the \u201cmilitary escalation\u201d and calling on \u201call parties to exercise utmost restraint and spare the region and its peoples from the dangers of war\u201d.<\/p>\n It went on to urge the UN Security Council \u201cto assume its responsibility towards maintaining international peace and security\u201d.<\/p>\n China\u2019s foreign ministry also urged restraint, characterising the attack as \u201cthe latest spillover of the Gaza conflict\u201d and calling for the implementation of a recent UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire there, saying the \u201cconflict must end now\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cChina calls on the international community, especially countries with influence, to play a constructive role for the peace and stability of the region,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n France\u2019s Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne on X said that \u201cin deciding to take this unprecedented action, Iran has reached a new level in its acts of destabilisation and is risking a military escalation\u201d.<\/p>\n Berlin\u2019s top diplomat also warned the attack would have a destabilising effect, and urged Tehran to halt the strikes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe condemn the ongoing attack \u2014 which could plunge an entire region into chaos \u2014 in the strongest possible terms,\u201d Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n \u201cIran and its proxies must stop this immediately,\u201d she continued, adding that Berlin stands \u201cfirmly by Israel\u201d.<\/p>\n Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa that his country \u201cunequivocally condemns Iran\u2019s airborne attacks\u201d, adding: \u201cWe stand with Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter supporting Hamas\u2019 brutal October 7 attack, the Iranian regime\u2019s latest actions will further destabilise the region and make lasting peace more difficult,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for restraint, saying<\/a> on X: \u201cWe are following with the greatest concern the evolution of the situation in the Middle East. One must at all cost avoid a regional escalation\u201d.<\/p>\n The office of Argentine President Javier Milei expressed its \u201csolidarity and unwavering commitment\u201d to Israel in the face of the attacks.<\/p>\n It added that Argentina \u201cemphatically supports the State of Israel in the defence of its sovereignty, especially against regimes that promote terror\u201d, noting an Argentine court recently held Iran responsible for bomb attacks on the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires in the 1990s.<\/p>\n Ukraine\u2019s foreign ministry said Kyiv \u201cstrongly condemns Iran\u2019s massive air attack\u201d saying it could lead to \u201cfurther grave acceleration in the Middle East\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe attack also demonstrates why it is critical that all of the free world\u2019s forces are consolidated to defend the global borders of democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n Russia urged all sides to \u201cshow restraint\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are counting on the regional states to solve the existing problems with political and diplomatic means,\u201d the foreign ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n Moscow expressed \u201cextreme concern over the latest dangerous escalation in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n It said it had warned numerous times that \u201cthe lack of resolution to numerous crises in the Middle East, primarily in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict\u201d would \u201clead to growth in instability\u201d.<\/p>\n Nato condemned Iran\u2019s overnight attack on Israel as \u201cescalation\u201d of regional unrest and urged restraint on all sides.<\/p>\n \u201cWe condemn Iran\u2019s overnight escalation, call for restraint, and are monitoring developments closely. It is vital that the conflict in the Middle East does not spiral out of control,\u201d spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said.<\/p>\n The United Arab Emirates called for the exercise of the utmost restraint to avoid dangerous repercussions in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n The UAE also called for resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic channels.<\/p>\n Pope Francis made a \u201cpressing appeal\u201d against a \u201cspiral of violence\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI make a pressing appeal for an end to any action which could fuel a spiral of violence that risks dragging the Middle East into an even greater conflict,\u201d the Argentinian pontiff declared.<\/p>\n \u201cI am praying and following with concern, but also pain, the news that has come in recent hours about the worsening situation in Israel due to Iran\u2019s intervention,\u201d the pope told worshippers.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one should threaten the existence of others. All countries must, however, side with peace and help Israelis and Palestinians to live in two states, side by side and in security,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is their right.\u201d<\/p>\n Syria said Iran acted in self-defence.<\/p>\n \u201cIran\u2019s response \u2026 is a legitimate right to self-defence\u201d against Israel, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian by phone, according to a report carried by state news agency SANA<\/em>.<\/p>\n Leaders of G7 nations condemned Iran\u2019s attack on Israel and called for \u201crestraint\u201d from all sides.<\/p>\n \u201cWe unanimously condemned Iran\u2019s unprecedented attack against Israel\u201d, European Council President Charles Michel wrote on X, formerly Twitter, following video talks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue all our efforts to work towards de-escalation. Ending the crisis in Gaza as soon as possible, notably through an immediate ceasefire, will make a difference. \u201c<\/p>\n Header image: Objects are seen in the sky above Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, in Jerusalem April 14, 2024. \u2014 Reuters<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nPakistan<\/h2>\n
United States<\/h2>\n
Britain<\/h2>\n
European Union<\/h2>\n
United Nations<\/h2>\n
Egypt<\/h2>\n
Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n
China<\/h2>\n
France<\/h2>\n
Germany<\/h2>\n
Canada<\/h2>\n
Spain<\/h2>\n
Argentina<\/h2>\n
Ukraine<\/h2>\n
Russia<\/h2>\n
Nato<\/h2>\n
UAE<\/h2>\n
Pope Francis<\/h2>\n
Syria<\/h2>\n
G7<\/h2>\n