World leaders on Tuesday called for calm after Iran launched a barrage of rockets at Israel, intensifying tensions in the region.
Tehran stated that its attack was in retaliation for the deaths of key Iran-backed militant leaders, while Israel responded by launching a ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. This marks the second time Iran has directly targeted Israel, with the first being in April following an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
UN calls for ceasefire:
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalating conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire, expressing concern over the growing tensions between Israel, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Hamas forces in Gaza.
US response:
President Joe Biden directed U.S. military support for Israel, including intercepting missiles aimed at the country. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the attack “totally unacceptable” and urged the international community to condemn it.
Israel’s vow to retaliate:
Israel’s military pledged a swift and decisive response. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed plans to retaliate at a time and place of their choosing.
Support from Hamas:
The Palestinian group Hamas praised Iran’s attack as a response to the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas’s own Ismail Haniyeh, celebrating the strikes as heroic.
Global reactions:
Spain, Germany, France, and the UK all condemned Iran’s actions, calling for restraint and an end to the violence. Germany and France in particular stressed the gravity of the situation, warning of its potential to destabilize the entire region. Canada also strongly condemned the attack, urging for de-escalation to prevent further instability.
The situation remains volatile as the world watches how these escalating tensions between Iran and Israel will unfold.
