Escalation or prevention: World leaders react to news of Israel’s retaliation strikes on Iran

News of Israel’s retaliation strikes, conducted on Friday night and the early hours of Saturday morning, was met with a wide range of reactions by world leaders - Some fearing regional escalation and others expressing support as the Jewish state sought to even the scores against Tehran. 

The strikes were retaliation for Iran’s October 1 mass aerial attack, which saw one Palestinian killed and several military sites hit. The attack was the latest in over a year of escalations as Iran-backed proxies began attacking Israel on October 7 and more have slowly joined the battle since; Hezbollah, the Houthis and militia groups in Iraq.

Israeli leaders react

Opposition leader and Yesh Atida party head Yair Lapid commended the air force for their success but stressed that Israel should have targeted Tehran's nuclear facilities. 

"[I] congratulate the Air Force which has once again demonstrated operational capabilities at the highest level in the world and its air superiority. Israel's enemies know this morning that the IDF is strong and can attack powerfully and reach anywhere," Lapid wrote. "The decision not to attack strategic and economic targets in Iran was wrong. We could and should have exacted a much heavier price from Iran."

מברך את חיל האוויר שהוכיח שוב יכולות מבצעיות ברמה הגבוהה בעולם ואת העליונות האווירית שלו. אוייבי ישראל יודעים הבוקר שצה"ל חזק ויכול לתקוף בעוצמה ולהגיע לכל מקום. ההחלטה לא לתקוף מטרות איסטרטגיות וכלכליות באיראן היתה שגויה. היינו יכולים וצריכים לגבות מאיראן מחיר כבד בהרבה. >>

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) October 26, 2024

World leadership reacts

Saudi leadership, whom Israel has long sought normalized ties with, condemned the attack, according to Saudi state media. Decrying the retaliation as a "violation of its sovereignty" and international laws, Saudi Arabia urged all parties to use maximum restraint and avoid adding further conflict to the region.

Qatar's foreign ministry on Saturday condemned Israel's airstrikes on Iran and urged restraint and dialogue to avoid regional instability.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday Iran should not respond to a wave of Israeli strikes, urging restraint on all sides.

"I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. I'm equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint. Iran should not respond," he said, speaking at a press conference in Samoa, where he has been attending a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday condemned the military targeting of Iran and stressed the importance of exercising "maximum restraint" to avoid escalation, after Israel carried out airstrikes on military sites in Iran.

"Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These strikes undermine path to regional peace and stability and also constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Israel bears full responsibility for the current cycle of escalation and expansion of the conflict. We call on the UN Security council to play its role for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to take immediate steps to bring an end to Israeli recklessness in the region and its criminal behaviour."

Iraq's leadership said, Israel "continues its aggressive policies and expansion of conflict in the region, employing blatant acts of aggression without deterrence. This time, its hand of aggression has targeted the Islamic Republic of Iran through an airstrike on Iranian targets early this morning.

The statement said Iraq "reiterates its firm stance calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and for comprehensive regional and international efforts to support stability in the region."

The Hamas terror group, who ignited the regional tensions with their October 7 attacks on southern Israel, wrote on Telegram, "The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) strongly condemns the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, targeting military sites in multiple provinces.

"We consider this a flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region and the safety of its people, placing full responsibility on the occupation for the consequences of this aggression, supported by the United States of America."

American politicians react

Israel's strikes on military sites in Iran appear to have been a targeted and proportional response to Tehran's earlier attacks, with a low risk of civilian harm, a senior Biden administration official said late on Friday. 

“We understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1," said Sean Savett, White House National Security Council spokesperson, in a statement. "We would refer you to the Israeli government for more information on their operation."

House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote "Congress stands resolutely behind Israel as our ally strikes in self-defense. The world should know we will fully support Israel if Iran continues its violence."

Congress stands resolutely behind Israel as our ally strikes in self-defense. The world should know we will fully support Israel if Iran continues its violence.

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 26, 2024

Republican Representative Mike Waltz commented on the strikes over X/Twitter, noting that “This might be Israel’s last best chance to diminish Iran’s nuclear program and shut down their cash.“ 

So far…it’s important to note what hasn’t been hit in Iran: 1. Kharg island where 80% of Iran’s oil exports funnel (but doing so would cause oil prices to spike just before the election) 2. Natanz nuclear facilities which are 200 miles outside Tehran (and Biden publicly said…

— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) October 26, 2024

After listing the potential targets Israel chose not to hit during the attack, he questioned whether the Biden administration had any role in limiting the sites Israel was willing to hit.

Biden officials had previously spoken against Israel targeting Tehran’s nuclear facilities, the Jerusalem Post previously reported. 

October 7th wouldn’t have happened if Iran hadn’t funded it—and Harris, Biden, and Obama helped fill Iran’s coffers. The US must stand with Israel as it stands up to the terrorist Iranian regime pic.twitter.com/LDtlx8RDx8

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 26, 2024

Senator Josh Hawley added a similar comment, writing on X/Twitter and telling local media, “October 7th wouldn’t have happened if Iran hadn’t funded it—and Harris, Biden, and Obama helped fill Iran’s coffers.”

“The US must stand with Israel as it stands up to the terrorist Iranian regime”

During the interview, Hawley expressed “Israel is our most important ally” and stressed it was time to put Tehran "back in its box.”

Senator Ted Budd wrote "Since October 7th, Israel has faced an array of attacks from Iran and its terror proxies. Tonight, they answered with the only thing Tehran understands—strength. 

Since October 7th, Israel has faced an array of attacks from Iran and its terror proxies. Tonight, they answered with the only thing Tehran understands—strength. America stands with Israel.

— Senator Ted Budd (@SenTedBuddNC) October 26, 2024

"America stands with Israel."

JERUSALEM POST STAFF and REUTERS contributed to this report.