PARIS, Oct 26, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The US and Britain called for "de-escalation" 
after Israel on Saturday hit military targets across Iran in deadly 
retaliatory strikes as Muslim countries blamed Israel for exacerbating the 
conflict.

Israeli planes hit military bases, missile sites, and other systems in 
several Iranian regions in retaliation for a missile barrage earlier this 
month. Iran said two soldiers died in the attacks.

- US:'Exercise in self-defense' -

The United States urged Iran on Saturday to stop attacking Israel to break 
the cycle of violence "without further escalation".

Israel's "response was an exercise in self-defense and specifically avoided 
populated areas and focused solely on military targets, contrary to Iran's 
attack against Israel that targeted Israel's most populous city," National 
Security Council spokesman Sean Savett told reporters, stressing that the 
United States did not participate in the operation.

"It is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle 
East region," he said.

- Britain:'De-escalation' -

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for "de-escalation" and said Iran 
should not respond to Israel's strikes.

"I think we need to be really clear that Israel does have the right to defend 
itself, but we are urging, and have been urging all sides to show restraint, 
and that is why I am very clear today, Iran should not be responding to 
this," Starmer said.

- Saudi:'Threatens security' -

Saudi Arabia condemned Israel and warned against any further expansion of the 
conflict in the Middle East.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation" of 
the Israeli strikes, the foreign ministry said, repeating its "firm position 
rejecting escalation of the conflict in the region", which "threatens the 
security and the stability of countries and peoples" in the Middle East.

- Syria:'Solidarity' with Iran -

Syria expressed its "solidarity" with its ally Iran.

The foreign ministry said it supported "Iran's legitimate right to defend 
itself and protect its territory and the lives of its citizens".

- Iraq:'Israel widening conflict' -

Iraq accused Israel of expanding conflict in the Middle East and denounced 
global inaction.

"The occupying Zionist entity continues its aggressive policies and widening 
the conflict in the region through blatant attacks that it carries out with 
impunity," government spokesman Basim Alawadi said in a statement, citing 
"the international community's silence" on Israeli actions.

- Jordan:'Dangerous escalation' -

Jordan said the strikes were "in violation of international law and (Iran's) 
sovereignty, and a dangerous escalation that leads to more tension in the 
region."

Foreign ministry spokesman Sufyan Qudah called on the international community 
to "assume its responsibilities and take immediate measures to impose a halt 
to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon as a first step 
towards reducing the escalation".

- Pakistan:'Undermining stability' -

Pakistan condemned Israel's strikes, saying it bore "full responsibility" for 
escalating the conflict in the Middle East.

"These strikes undermine the path to regional peace and stability and also 
constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region," its foreign 
ministry said in a statement.

- Hamas:'Violation of sovereignty' -

Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which is at war with Israel in Gaza and 
backed by Iran, blasted Israel.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the Zionist aggression against the Islamic 
Republic of Iran, and the targeting of military sites in several provinces", 
the movement said in a statement, calling the move "a blatant violation of 
Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the 
region".