While waiting for the emergency Security Council meeting scheduled for this Sunday regarding the Iranian attacks targeting Israel, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has stepped up. Other reactions were quick to follow…
Here are the main reactions following the unprecedented attack by Iran against Israel on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned on Saturday "the serious escalation" represented by Iran's attack on Israel, calling for "an immediate cessation of hostilities."
He stated he was "deeply alarmed by the very real danger of a devastating escalation throughout the region," urging "all parties to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid any actions that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East."
Meanwhile, NATO "condemns Iran's escalation" and "calls for restraint," according to a statement by NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah. "It is crucial that the conflict in the Middle East does not become uncontrollable," the organization emphasized.
"Our commitment to Israel's security against threats from Iran and its proxies (in the region) is unwavering," wrote U.S. President Joe Biden on the social network X, posting a photo of an emergency meeting with his national security team at the White House.
He further "condemned these attacks in the strongest terms," calling them "shameless" and reaffirming his "unwavering" support for Israel. American forces helped to down "almost all" the Iranian projectiles, he added in a statement.
"China expresses deep concern over the current worsening (of the situation) and calls on the involved parties to remain calm and restrained to prevent further escalation" of tensions, stated the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls "all involved parties" to "restraint," following the Iranian strikes targeting Israel.
"We rely on the region's states to find a solution to the existing problems through political and diplomatic means," it added in a statement.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called "all parties to show the greatest restraint and to spare the region and its people the dangers of war," according to a statement.
While expressing "deep concern" over the "military escalation" in the region, it called on the UN Security Council to "fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security."
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "deep concern" and called "all parties to end the escalation" and to "exercise the greatest restraint."
The emirate - engaged for weeks in talks between Israel and Hamas - urges the international community to "take urgent measures to defuse the tension," adding that it supports "efforts to achieve regional and international security and stability."
Egypt, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated it "calls for maximum restraint" and "is in direct contact with all parties to the conflict to try to contain the situation," warning against the "risk of regional expansion of the conflict."
Reactions in Europe
The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, strongly condemned the "unacceptable" attack launched by Iran against Israel. "It constitutes an unprecedented escalation and a serious threat to regional security," he added on X.
The President of the European Commission,, "strongly condemns the blatant and unjustifiable attack by Iran against Israel," on X. "I call on Iran and its proxies to immediately cease these attacks. All actors must now refrain from any further escalation and work to restore stability in the region," she added.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned "in the strongest terms the unprecedented attack launched by Iran against Israel, which threatens to destabilize the region."
"I express my solidarity with the Israeli people and France's commitment to the security of Israel, our partners, and to regional stability," he added on X, while calling for "restraint."
Germany warned on Sunday that the attack by Iran against Israel could "plunge the entire region into chaos."
"We condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing attack, which could plunge the entire region into chaos," stated German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on X, urging "Iran and its proxies to immediately cease" and adding that Berlin stands "firmly alongside Israel."
The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose country chairs the G7 called into emergency session this Sunday, "condemned" the Iranian attack against Israel, expressing her "strong concern about further destabilization of the region."
"We continue to work to avoid it," she stated in a message published Sunday on X.
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on Sunday to "avoid at all costs a regional escalation." "After a long distressing night during which the magnitude of the attack perpetrated by Iran was confirmed, the Spanish government condemns it, as it has condemned and will always condemn all forms of violence that threaten the security and well-being of innocent civilians," he commented.
The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemns "in the strongest terms the dangerous attack by the Iranian regime against Israel" ensuring that the United Kingdom "will continue to defend Israel's security" by announcing the dispatch of additional fighter jets to the Middle East.
"Together with our allies, we are working urgently to stabilize the situation and prevent an escalation. No one wants to
