The US and Britain 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.
Israeli planes hit military bases, missile sites, and other systems in several Iranian regions in retaliation for a missile barrage earlier this month. Iran said two soldiers died in the attacks.
- US: 'Exercise in self-defense' -
The United States urged Iran to stop attacking Israel and break the cycle of violence "without further escalation".
Israel's "response was an exercise in self-defense and specifically avoided populated areas and focused solely on military targets, contrary to Iran's attack against Israel that targeted Israel's most populous city," National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett told reporters, stressing that the United States did not participate in the operation.
"It is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region," he said.
- Britain: 'De-escalation'
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for "de-escalation" and said Iran should not respond to Israel's strikes.
"I think we need to be really clear that Israel does have the right to defend itself, but we are urging, and have been urging all sides to show restraint, and that is why I am very clear today, Iran should not be responding to this," Starmer said.
- Russia: 'Catastrophic scenario' -
Russia urged all sides to exercise restraint and warned of a "catastrophic scenario".
"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: 'Threatens security' -
Saudi Arabia condemned Israel and warned against any further expansion of the conflict in the Middle East.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation" of the Israeli strikes, the foreign ministry said, repeating its "firm position rejecting escalation of the conflict in the region", which "threatens the security and the stability of countries and peoples" in the Middle East.
- Syria: 'Solidarity' with Iran -
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: 'Israel widening conflict' -
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: 'Dangerous escalation' -
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."
Foreign ministry spokesman Sufyan Qudah called on the international community to "assume its responsibilities and take immediate measures to impose a halt to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon as a first step towards reducing the escalation".
- Turkey: End Israeli 'terror' -
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.
"By committing genocide in Gaza, preparing to annex the West Bank and killing civilians every day in Lebanon, Israel has brought our region to the brink of a greater war," it added.
- Pakistan: 'Undermining stability' -
Pakistan condemned Israel's strikes, saying it bore "full responsibility" for escalating the conflict in the Middle East.
"These strikes undermine the path to regional peace and stability and also constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region," its foreign ministry said in a statement.
- Hamas: 'Violation of sovereignty' -
Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which is at war with Israel in Gaza and backed by Iran, blasted Israel.
"We condemn in the strongest terms the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the targeting of military sites in several provinces", the movement said in a statement, calling the move "a blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region".
© Agence France-Presse
