Reaction to Iran's attack on Israel has been swift with warnings of the risk of a spiraling crisis.
Germany's foreign minister said that Iran's massive attack on Israel has brought the entire region to the "edge of the abyss."
Iran launched a barrage of some 300 drones and missiles at Israel overnight. The Israeli Defense Forces and its allies, including the United States, downed most of them before they could hit their targets.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters: "With its aggressive behavior, with which it wants to destabilize a whole region, Iran is isolated."
She called for a de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran.
"We call on Iran to refrain from further attacks, including via proxies. A regional conflagration would have incalculable consequences. I call on all actors in the region to act prudently," she told reporters, according to the news outlet Anadolu.
She said Germany and its allies were discussing "consequences," but didn't explain what those might be, the Associated Press reported.
"We can only warn everyone, especially Iran, against continuing in this way," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said while on a trip to China.
"It's clear that Iran is determined to sow discontent and destabilize the region, its own backyard," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC on Sunday.
He warned that if the attack had been successful, the fallout for the region would be dramatic.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also condemned the attack and linked it to his country's own fight.
"Every effort must be made to prevent a further escalation in the Middle East. Iran's actions threaten the entire region and the world, just as Russia's actions threaten a larger conflict, and the obvious collaboration between the two regimes in spreading terror must face a resolute and united response from the world," he posted on X.
Ukraine condemns Iran’s attack on Israel using “Shahed” drones and missiles. We in Ukraine know very well the horror of similar attacks by Russia, which uses the same “Shahed” drones and Russian missiles, the same tactics of mass air strikes.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 14, 2024
Every effort must be made to prevent…
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said officials have "utmost concern" over the attacks.
"We have repeatedly warned that unresolved crises throughout the Middle East — primarily in the area of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — are often being fueled by irresponsible and provocative actions and will lead to increased tensions in the area," the ministry said in a statement.
