Latin American leaders and governments have voiced disquiet and apprehension over an Iranian strike on Israel and its potential consequences.
Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, April 13, 2024, night, in the Islamic Republic’s first ever direct attack on the Jewish state.
The Iranian government hailed its unprecedented direct strike as a success.
Through its mission at the UN, Iran said the mass aerial attack, which it called Operation True Promise, was a retaliation for the bombing of an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus on April 1, 2024, and that it now considered the matter closed unless there was further action by Israel.
“The matter can be deemed concluded,” the statement said.
Iranian officials added that regional neighbours had been informed several days before the airstrikes.
Speaking to foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, divulged that Iran had also informed the U.S that its strikes on Israel would be “limited” and for self defence.
Israel, with the help of key western allies including the US, UK and Jordan, claimed to have intercepted 99% of the launches during the mass strike, but added that some ballistic missiles had reached Israel, damaging the Nevatim airbase in the south of the country, which remained operational.
Expressing worry about the situation, Bolivian leader, Luis Arce tweeted, “War is the worst way to resolve international conflicts … there are no winners in war, everyone loses, and the escalation of violence worldwide puts humanity at risk of disappearing.”
He urged the UN Secretary-General to call an emergency meeting “to prevent this conflict escalating into a third world war.”
President Gustavo Petro called the attacks “predictable”, adding that “we’re now in the prelude to World War III precisely when humanity should rebuild its economy towards the rapid goal of decarbonisation.”
“The support of the US, in practice, for a genocide, has ignited the world. Everyone knows how wars start, no one knows how they end. If only the people of Israel were high enough, like their ancestors, to stop the madness of their ruler.”
“The United Nations must meet urgently and must immediately commit to peace.”
Gustavo Petro
Mexico’s left-wing President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, also expressed fear the conflict could spread.
“War is irrational, [a] synonym for suffering and death; it benefits no one, not even warmongering magnates and governors. Let’s support peace and universal brotherhood.”
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
Tehran warned that it will strike again with greater force if Israel or the US retaliate for the Iranian strike.
“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” a statement on social media platform X read.
It added, “It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the US must stay away.”
Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi said in a statement, “If the Zionist regime [Israel] or its supporters demonstrate reckless behaviour, they will receive a decisive and much stronger response.”
Iranian military chief, Major-General Mohammad Bagheri also made similar claims.
“Our response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran,” Bagheri told state TV, adding that Tehran had warned Washington that any backing of Israeli retaliation would result in U.S bases being targeted.
Israel To Exact Price From Iran
Meanwhile, war cabinet Minister, Benny Gantz stated that Israel will retaliate.
“We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us,” Gantz said in a statement as the Israeli war cabinet was due to convene to discuss Israel’s response to Iran’s attack.
Israel’s war cabinet, made up of Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, and Gantz, is due to meet later on Sunday, April 14, 2024, to discuss a response to the attack.
Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant said, “We have an opportunity to establish a strategic alliance against this grave threat by Iran which is threatening to mount nuclear explosives on these missiles, which could be an extremely grave threat.”
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