Arab nations condemn Israeli airstrikes on Iran, warn of regional escalation

Several Arab nations issued strong condemnations on Friday following Israel's large-scale military attack against Iran, warning that the escalation could further destabilise an already volatile region.

The airstrikes, reportedly involving 200 Israeli fighter jets, targeted key components of Iran’s nuclear programme and long-range missile capabilities. 

According to the reports, several senior military officials and nuclear scientists were also killed in the attack, prompting an outcry across the Middle East.

Qatar was among the first to denounce the operation, calling it an act of aggression. In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said, “The State of Qatar expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli aggression that targeted the territory of the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Read: Israel claims Mossad set up drone base in central Iran a year before strike

The statement described the airstrikes as a dangerous escalation and part of Israel’s recurring aggressive policy that threatens the region’s security, undermines diplomatic efforts, and fuels further instability.

Qatar reaffirmed its “firm position rejecting all forms of violence and escalation,” urging all parties to exercise self-restraint to prevent a broader conflict.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also issued a strong condemnation, expressing deep concern over the consequences of the strike on regional peace and calling for immediate de-escalation.

The UAE stressed “the need to exercise the utmost self-restraint and judgment to mitigate risks and prevent the expansion of the conflict,” said a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

Read: No radiation leak detected after Israeli strike on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility: report

The UAE also called on the United Nations and the international community to take urgent measures to preserve peace and security in the region.

Egypt, meanwhile, warned of “unprecedented repercussions” that could follow the Israeli military action. Cairo emphasised the importance of resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels rather than armed confrontation.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry on Friday strongly condemned the Israeli attack on Iran, labeling it "blatant aggression" and a clear violation of international law.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms,” the statement read.

The Palestinian group Hamas also strongly condemned the strikes, describing them as “a large-scale aggression launched by the Zionist occupation on the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran.” The accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “dragging the region into open confrontations.”