International criticism

Outrage and concern after Iran’s attack on Israel

Many rockets have been taken out of the sky long before the border with Israel - as shown here, for example, by a piece of rocket debris in Jordan.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Ahmad SHOURA)

The attack on Israel by Iran on Sunday night has sparked international outrage and concern about a further escalation of the situation in the Middle East. US President Joe Biden assured Israel of the USA's support. The UN Security Council is planning a special meeting. Among others, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the EU, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (both ÖVP) sharply criticized Iran. 

Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan stated via Platform X that he had asked the Maltese UN Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, whose country currently chairs the body, for a corresponding meeting of the Security Council. According to diplomatic sources, the meeting in New York could still take place on Sunday evening.

Biden pledged support for Israel
"Our commitment to Israel's security against the threats posed by Iran and its proxies is unwavering," wrote US President Biden in a post on X on Saturday evening (local time). He also published a photo of a meeting with his crisis team in the Situation Room, the operations center in the White House. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who are taking part in the consultations on Saturday, can also be seen in the photo.

Nehammer: "Austria stands by Israel's side"
On Sunday night, Federal Chancellor Nehammer condemned the Iranian attack on Israel "in the strongest possible terms". Austria stands by Israel, said Nehammer: "We call on Iran to stop any hostility immediately." Foreign Minister Schallenberg also expressed great concern about Iran's attacks against Israel. "This is a new level of escalation in a situation that is already highly dangerous," he wrote on X. 

National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) expressed similar sentiments, condemning Iran's "unjustified attack" on Israel "in the strongest possible terms". It was "an unprecedented escalation and a serious threat to regional security", Sobotka said in a statement. "I call on Iran and its proxies in the region to avoid any further escalation and provocation."

Jerusalem after the attack on Sunday morning

(Bild: AFP)

Neighboring country Egypt "extremely concerned" 
Following Iran's attack on Israel, UN Secretary-General Guterres sees the risk of a catastrophic escalation of the situation in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia expressed its deep concern about the military escalations in the region and the serious consequences and called on all parties involved to exercise the utmost restraint. Egypt also expressed "extreme concern" about the attack on its neighbor Israel and called for extreme restraint. Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel in 1979.

EU politicians advise against further escalation
EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell strongly condemned the Iranian attack on Israel and spoke of an "unprecedented escalation". EU Council President Charles Michel expressed similar sentiments. "Everything must be done to prevent further regional escalation", he wrote on X. "More bloodshed must be avoided." EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the Iranian attack on Israel and called on all sides to remain calm. "All players must now refrain from further escalation and work to restore stability in the region," the Commission President continued.

Germany: Iran risks "regional conflagration"
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the heavy Iranian airstrikes on Israeli territory "in the strongest possible terms". Scholz, who is currently on a three-day visit to China, wants to discuss a response with the G7 states. Iran risks a "regional conflagration", said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Sunday morning immediately after Scholz's arrival in the Chinese city of Chongqing. 

France's Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne also condemned Iran's attack. "By deciding to take such an unprecedented action, Iran is taking the next step in its destabilizing actions and running the risk of military escalation," he wrote on X.

British Prime Minister: "Chaos in Iran's own backyard" 
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also condemned the Iranian attack on Israel "in the strongest terms". "These attacks risk exacerbating tensions and destabilizing the region," Sunak said in a statement on Saturday evening. "Iran has once again shown that it intends to create chaos in its own backyard."