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Britain, the United States and allies engaged in desperate diplomacy Sunday to try to prevent Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel from spilling over into a wider war in the region.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for a “calm response to win” as US President Joe Biden warns Israel not to fight back against attempted drone and missile attacks by Iran This signified a significant escalation of the proxy war between the two major powers.
Sunak took part in emergency talks with other G7 leaders on Sunday afternoon, with allies warning that Iranian attacks risked “uncontrollable regional escalation.”
Foreign Secretary David Cameron spent the day on the phone trying to calm tensions amid concerns that Iran’s first-ever direct attack on Israeli soil could have ripple effects around the world.
But Western countries and allies were waiting with bated breath to see how Israel would react after Benny Gantz, Israel’s war cabinet minister, said his country would retaliate “when the time is right.”
Royal Air Force fighter jets were scrambled into Syria and Iraq over the weekend, and Israel and other allies, including the US, shot down 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and “99 per cent” of missiles, according to the Tel Aviv government. As a result, the attack attempt almost failed. At least 120 ballistic missiles.
Officials said the British Typhoon involvement was more of a calming move than a trigger for tensions, as the Iranian projectiles could have caused massive loss of life and sparked war if not intercepted. He claimed that there was.
Mr Sunak echoed this sentiment, telling the broadcaster: “If this attack were successful, the impact on regional stability cannot be overstated. We support the security of Israel and the wider region. It’s important for your safety” at home. “
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron held telephone talks with officials from around the region in a bid to stop the war, and called on Iran’s foreign minister to “stop the reckless attacks” and “de-escalate tensions.”
Conservative Party deputy leader Rachel MacLean said: times radio: “As you can imagine, conversations are taking place between the Foreign Minister and his counterpart, and those conversations are continuing.
“(It’s) extremely important that we have those conversations and emphasize that the ultimate goal is to prevent further acts and further flare-ups of tension, because in the end the losses are Only residents of those countries.
Government officials confirmed on Sunday that “political and diplomatic dialogue in the region is ongoing,” adding that “Israel remains very committed to de-escalating tensions while recognizing its right to self-defense.” We are working hard,” he added.
After the G7 telephone conversation, the leaders issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s attack “in the strongest terms” and expressing “full solidarity and support for Israel”, adding, “Iran has committed its actions to destabilizing the region. “We have taken a further step towards increasing the risk and risks.” causing uncontrollable regional escalation. ”
The statement continued: “This must be avoided. We will continue to work to stabilize the situation and avoid further escalation. In this spirit, we call on Iran and its proxies to cease attacks and We remain prepared to take further steps to address further destabilization.”
The leaders did not directly call on Israel to refrain from retaliation, but instead called for an “immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas” and “intensified humanitarian assistance,” while calling for cooperation to end the Gaza crisis. promised to strengthen the Palestinians in trouble. ”
However, after the phone call, European Council President Charles Michel appeared to suggest that Israel should not overreact, saying: “All parties must exercise restraint.”
Bolivian President Luis Arce called on the UN Secretary-General to convene an emergency meeting “to prevent this conflict from escalating into World War III.”
This comes as Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington, D.C., opposed Israel’s military retaliation against Iran, and that the Israeli prime minister “won a victory” by repelling attacks and uniting allies at a time when his regime was weakened. ”, the US news agency Axios reported. He is under pressure for his actions in Gaza.
Meanwhile, a senior Biden administration official told reporters on Sunday that the U.S. would not participate in any retaliation, saying, “We are committed to defending Israel. We will not engage in any of their responses.” .This is a very consistent policy.”
The senior US military official added: “Israel has made it clear to us that it does not want any significant escalation with Iran.” That’s not what they’re looking for. They’re trying to protect themselves and protect themselves. ”
I Meanwhile, ministers are understood to believe that Britain’s decision to continue to allow arms sales to Israel despite allegations of war crimes in Gaza was justified by the Iranian attack.
Meanwhile, the government declined to say whether it intended to punish Iran, as Labor called for sanctions against Iran’s Shahed 136 drone, which was used in the attack and which Russia also deployed in Ukraine.
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The time has come to tighten sanctions against drones and I hope the Government will set out further plans to do so tomorrow.”