Brussels (Brussels Morning) – European Council President Charles Michel strongly condemns Iran’s aggression against Israel, urging restraint to prevent further escalation in the Middle East conflict. The EU closely monitors developments with partners.
European Council President Charles Michel expressed EU leaders “strongly condemn” the aggression by Iran on Israel. “Everything must be done to prevent further regional escalation,” he stated in a post on X.
“More bloodshed must be avoided. We will continue to follow the situation closely with our partners,” Michel added.
European heads condemned the retaliatory attack by Iran on Israel late Saturday amid aviating fears of a major escalation in the Mideast dispute. Tehran threw a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones against targets in Israel, Iranian state media noted, in a move that could flash an escalation in the fighting in the Middle East. Iran had threatened to punish against a deadly Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria.
The Israeli military expressed the launches numbered more than 300 but 99 percent of them were thwarted. U.S. President Joe Biden stated American forces supported Israel down “nearly all” the drones and missiles and vowed to convene allies to develop a unified response.
The region had been on increased alert for a possible retaliatory raid from Iran after an Israeli strike killed a senior Iranian officer at an embassy in Syria. U.S. officials had considered the threat from Tehran as real and possible. Biden stated that “the U.S. military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defence desecrators to the region for the past week” in anticipation of an attack.
Israel Defense Forces representative Daniel Hagari stated some of the missiles fired by Iran anchored inside Israel, including one that struck and caused minor damage to an IDF base in the south of the country. “Only one little girl has been hurt,” Hagari stated. The Israeli government has called for an emergency session at the U.N. Security Council. Meanwhile, Iran’s permanent mission to the U.N. stated in a statement on X that the attack “can be considered concluded” and “should the Israeli regime push another mistake, Iran’s response will be extensively more severe.” The U.S. “must stay away,” the statement said.
Moreover, In October last year, President Charles Michel was questioned about the tensions between the US, Iran, and Syria, expressing concern over the potential for a broader conflict. He emphasized the importance of proactive measures to prevent escalation, noting the risk of direct or proxy involvement by Iran. Discussions with regional leaders underscored the necessity for coordinated efforts. He highlighted the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing the need for substantive strategic discussions rather than superficial debates. The lengthy dialogue during the recent session reflected the gravity of the issue and the ongoing commitment to preparedness. It was acknowledged that further discussions on this matter would be necessary in future European Council meetings.
