World leaders react to Israel’s retaliatory strike against Iran

Israel’s strikes against Iranian military targets during the early hours of Saturday morning local time elicited a variety of responses from world leaders. Arab leaders condemned the strikes, while Western leaders urged Iran to show restraint and not respond to the missile attack.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck military targets in Iran early on Saturday morning in an operation dubbed, "Days of Repentance." The operation lasted several hours and was conducted in multiple waves, striking facilities for missile production, air defense systems that could limit the IAF's freedom of action, and ground-to-ground missile launchers.

Operation ‘Days of Repentance’ was in retaliation for Iran’s Oct. 1 mass aerial attack, which saw more than 180 ballistic missiles launched at Israel, the second such attack by Iran in just six months.

Saudi Arabia condemned Israel's attack on Iran as a “violation of sovereignty” and international law, urging maximum restraint and avoiding further escalation.

“The kingdom affirms its firm position in its rejection of the continued escalation in the region and the expansion of the conflict that threatens the security and stability of the countries and peoples of the region,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The United Arab Emirates, despite having normalized ties with Israel with the signing of the 2020 Abraham Accords, also condemned the Israeli operation, saying it “strongly condemns the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran and expresses deep concern over the continued escalation and its impact on regional security and stability.”

The country of 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.”

Turkey slammed Israel’s operations as “terror.”

“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. We condemn in the strongest terms the Israeli attack on Iran. 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.”

Pakistan and Malaysia also blasted Israel for the operation. Pakistan called it “a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region,” while Malaysia said it was a “clear violation of international law.”

Iraq stated that Israel “continues its aggressive policies and widening the conflict in the region through blatant attacks that it carries out with impunity.”

The Hamas terrorist organization, Iran’s proxy in the Gaza Strip, condemned the strikes in a post on Telegram.

“The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) strongly condemns the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, targeting military sites in multiple provinces. We consider this a flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region and the safety of its people, placing full responsibility on the occupation for the consequences of this aggression, supported by the United States of America.”

In the United States, a senior Biden administration official said the strikes appeared to have been “targeted and proportional” in response to the Islamic regime’s attacks on Israel.

“We urge Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation,” US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett told reporters.

“Their 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,” Savett added, stressing that the U.S. did not participate in the operation.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote: “Congress stands resolutely behind Israel as our ally strikes in self-defense. The world should know we will fully support Israel if Iran continues its violence.”

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley expressed a similar sentiment, blaming the Iranian regime for the current war.

“October 7th wouldn’t have happened if Iran hadn’t funded it and Harris, Biden, and Obama helped fill Iran’s coffers.” He added that “Israel is our most important ally” and stressed it was time to put Tehran “back in its box.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Israel has the right to defend itself while urging restraint and calling on Iranian leaders not to respond.

“I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. I'm equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint. Iran should not respond,” Starmer said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Iran against any “escalation.”

“My message to Iran is clear: massive escalating reactions must not continue. These must stop immediately. Only then can we open the possibility of a peaceful evolution in the Middle East,” he posted on 𝕏.

France stated that it had “taken note” of Israel’s announcement of strikes, and urged “the parties to refrain from any escalation and action likely to aggravate the context of extreme tension prevailing in the region.”