Israel-Iran tensions escalate following deadly strikes; World leaders call for restraint

World leaders on Friday raised the alarm over a looming regional crisis after Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran, killing top military commanders.

The attacks have escalated long-standing hostilities between the two countries.

Among those killed in the early morning strikes were Iran’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami.

Iran has also retaliated against the attacks by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles towards Israel on Friday, injuring seven Israelis.

The Israeli military, according to CNN, said “all of Israel is under fire” as a result of Tehran’s strikes.

CNN reported that Iran confirmed that it had fired “hundreds of various ballistic missiles” towards Israel, in what it called the “beginning” of its “crushing response.”

“Moments ago, with the launch of hundreds of various ballistic missiles toward the occupied territories, the operation of decisive response to the savage attack of the Zionist regime has begun,” Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, reported.

The attacks triggered a wave of airspace closures across the Middle East, including Iran, Israel, Iraq, Syria and Jordan.

Several international airlines cancelled or rerouted flights, citing security concerns.

In response to the security threat, Israel temporarily shut down its embassies around the world and advised citizens abroad to avoid identifying themselves or sharing travel plans.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who confirmed the attack, said the air raids targeted nuclear sites, ballistic missile infrastructure, and key figures in Iran’s weapons programme under a military campaign codenamed Operation Rising Lion.

“This operation struck at the core of Iran’s nuclear and missile programme,” Netanyahu declared, defending the strikes as a “necessary step” to protect Israeli security.

The development has sparked widespread diplomatic reactions, with the United Nations, United States, European Union, and other world powers calling for restraint and dialogue to prevent a full-blown war.

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, warned of a “descent into deeper conflict,” urging both Isreal and Iran to “exercise maximum restraint.”

This is as the US President, Donald Trump, said he was briefed before the attacks were carried out.

He noted that while the US would continue to support Israel, Washington hoped to bring Tehran back to the negotiation table.

“Iran must not have a nuclear bomb. But we also want peace,” Trump stated.

In London, UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, called for calm, urging all parties to de-escalate.

“Escalation serves no one,” he said.

Russia also condemned the strikes with a statement from President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, labelling the airstrikes “unacceptable.”

The Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv also urged Russian citizens in Israel to leave the country immediately.

China joined the chorus of concern, warning of “severe consequences” from continued aggression.

Similarly, French President, Emmanuel Macron, appealed for “maximum restraint,” saying, “Israel has a right to defend itself, but not at the cost of regional stability.”

Turkey President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, slammed the Israeli offensive, accusing Netanyahu of violating international law.

“The world must stop this lawlessness that threatens global peace,” Erdogan said.

Also, the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, and Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy militia in the country, also reacted, with Hezbollah calling the strikes “brutal aggression.”

The renewed hostilities come months after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which marked the start of a regional flare-up involving Iran-backed militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen.

With tensions at a boiling point, global powers are scrambling to prevent a conflict that could engulf the wider Middle East.