President Joe Biden convened at the White House with the National Security Council following the commencement of Iranian strikes against Israel overnight on April 13-14, 2024. (Credit: White House/AFP)
BEIRUT — The drone and missile attack launched by Iran against Israel on Saturday sparked strong reactions, with US President Joe Biden in particular assuring Israel of his “ironclad” support in the face of these strikes. This is the first direct attack ever carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Israel, its sworn enemy.
The Israeli army claims that 99 percent of the missiles and drones were intercepted, with help from the US military. An airbase in southern Israel sustained minor damage and a 7-year-old girl was severely injured by missile fragments and is currently in intensive care.
The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, announced that they had launched both drones and missiles towards Israel, in response to the April 1 strike that destroyed its consulate in Damascus and killed seven IRGC members, among them two senior officers.
Here are some key reactions from the international community:
Biden assures Israel of "unwavering" support
US President Joe Biden posted a photo on X of an emergency meeting with his national security team at the White House, writing "Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad." Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated in a release that the US president's team is in "constant communication" with the Israelis and other US allies.
Sweden
Sweden "strongly condemns" last night's Iranian attack on Israel, the prime minister's office said, in a statement posted on X.
"This brings very serious consequences for an already deteriorating regional security situation,” says Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. "Sweden is following the situation very closely."
Egypt
Cairo, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed its call for "maximum restraint" and stated it is "in direct contact with all parties to the conflict to try to contain the situation," while warning of the "risk of regional expansion of the conflict."
South Korea
"South Korea strongly condemns Iran's attack on Israel," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia urged all parties to exercise the "highest level" of restraint and to spare the region and its inhabitants from the dangers of war.
The United Kingdom
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned "in the strongest terms the dangerous attack by the Iranian regime against Israel," assuring that the United Kingdom "will continue to defend Israel's security."
"Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilize the situation and prevent escalation. Nobody wants to see bloodshed again," said Mr. Sunak in a statement, noting that "these strikes risk inflaming tensions and destabilizing the region." The British government also declared it was sending additional combat aircraft to the Middle East and would intercept "if necessary" any airborne attack.
EU
EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell strongly condemned the "unacceptable" attack launched Saturday night by Iran against Israel. "It constitutes an unprecedented escalation and a serious threat to regional security," the official added.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said this morning, "I strongly condemn Iran's blatant and unjustifiable attack on Israel" in a message posted on X.
"I call on Iran and its proxies to immediately cease these attacks. All actors must now refrain from further escalation and work to restore stability to the region," she added.
France
Paris condemned the attack by Iran on Israel, which "crosses a new threshold in its destabilizing actions," French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné reacted on X. "By deciding on such an unprecedented action, Iran is crossing a new threshold in its destabilizing actions and risks military escalation," he wrote, adding that "France reaffirms its commitment to Israel's security and assures it of its solidarity."
Germany
Germany warned Sunday that Iran's drone and missile attack against Israel could "plunge the entire region into chaos."
"We condemn with the utmost firmness the ongoing attack, which could plunge the entire region into chaos," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the social media platform X, urging "Iran and its proxies to immediately cease" and adding that Berlin "firmly stands by Israel."
Italy
Rome announced Saturday night that it is "closely and concernedly" following the situation after the launch of Iranian drones against Israel, said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on X.
Iran's response
The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of Britain, France, and Germany on Sunday to question what it referred to as their "irresponsible stance" regarding Tehran's retaliatory strikes on Israel, the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency reported, cited by Reuters.
The director for Western Europe at Iran's foreign ministry accused the three countries of "double standards" as they opposed earlier this month a Russian-drafted UN Security Council statement that would have condemned Israel's attack on Iran's embassy compound in Syria.
"Iran's military action against the Zionist regime's [Israel] bases is well within the framework of the right to legitimate defense stipulated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and it is in response to a series of crimes, including the recent attack on the embassy compound in Syria," the official added.