Arab nations express need for restraint following Iranian attack on Israel

Governments around the Arab world on Sunday called for a de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran after Iran launched a major missile attack on Israel on Saturday night.

Earlier this month, Iran fired about 350 rockets at Israel after Israel attacked Iranian military leaders in Syria, raising fears of a regional war. Almost all of the rockets were intercepted by a joint operation between Israel, Jordan, and the United States, and damage inside Israel was kept to a minimum.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry called for “the highest level of restraint” in a statement, while the United Arab Emirates government warned of increasing “instability” in the region.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry issued a similar warning, urging the leaders of both Israel and Iran to “exercise utmost restraint and refrain from provocations that would increase regional tensions and instability.”

Shoukry said the conflict between Israel and Iran is “starting to take a dangerous turn as it combines with the crisis in the Gaza Strip and is causing tensions in other hotspots in the region.” He added that he had spoken to the chief minister. .

Jordan’s government on Saturday did Israel a favor by participating in its defense, a move the government said was to prevent Iran from “jeopardizing the security of its people and residential and populated areas.” .

President Biden spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Sunday about the conflict and condemned the attack.

Biden also called on Israeli leaders not to retaliate, fearing a regional war. Israeli leaders have signaled there will be a response, but said they are not seeking a broader conflict with Iran.

“This was a very aggressive and brutal attack that was like a declaration of war,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a CNN interview on Sunday. “But I was quick to add that we also don’t want war. We always want peace.”