Russia, Germany, and Britain have issued calls for restraint in the Middle East, following Iranian threats against Israel.
The German airline Lufthansa, announced an extension of its suspension of flights to the Iranian capital, citing security concerns.
Russia also cautioned against travel to the Middle East, heightening concerns over the volatile situation.
The recent airstrike on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus, which resulted in the death of a top Iranian general and six other military officers, has further strained relations in the region.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed retaliation on the attack as he said Israel “must be punished and it shall be”, saying the airstrike was an attack on Iranian soil.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged Iran to exercise “maximum restraint” to prevent further escalation, while Russia emphasised the importance of maintaining stability in the region.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighted the need for all parties to refrain from actions that could fuel the situation, saying, “Right now it’s very important for everyone to maintain restraint so as not to lead to a complete destabilisation of the situation in the region, which doesn’t exactly shine with stability and predictability.”
