German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Israel to contribute to calming the situation in the Middle East after Iran's unprecedented attack on Israeli territory over the weekend.
"The way Israel managed with international and local partners to repel that attack is truly impressive.... It is a success that perhaps should not be wasted, hence our advice to contribute to de-escalation," Soltz said at a press conference during his visit to China.
Israel and its allies said they intercepted almost all of the more than 350 rockets and drones fired by Iran at Israel overnight, in the first direct attack on Israeli territory. Iran carried out the attack in response to an early April strike on its consulate in Damascus, Syria, attributed to Israel, that killed two senior Iranian commanders.
British Foreign Minister David Cameron today called on Israel not to retaliate against Iran after the Iranian attack on Israel over the weekend.
"We want to avoid an escalation of the conflict. We say very clearly that we do not support the strike as a retaliatory measure," the British foreign minister told the BBC.
"Iran attempted a massive attack on Israel" which, if not successfully repelled, could have caused "thousands of casualties," Cameron said.
According to him, this is a double defeat for Iran, because not only was the operation not crowned with success and all the missiles were shot down, but the world also saw the "malign influence" of Tehran in the region.
Cameron called on Israel to accept victory as suggested by US President Joe Biden.
The US wants neither escalation nor war with Iran, White House spokesman John Kirby said yesterday, a day after Iran's attack on Israel. "US President Joseph Biden was clear. We don't want tightening. We don't want a war with Iran," Kirby told the American television channel NBC.
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