Taoiseach describes Iranian attack as ‘reckless’ as he appeals for peace
Taoiseach Simon Harris has condemned Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel. The Iranian government launched the unprecedented assault on Saturday night in response to an Israeli attack on the country’s consulate in Syria earlier this month.
Iran had vowed to retaliate after two of its top generals were killed in the air strike on Damascus on April 1.
“I strongly condemn Iran’s reckless and large-scale attack on Israel,” Mr Harris said in a statement. “I urge all sides to show restraint now and to avoid any escalation in military action and the devastation that would cause.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has also condemned the attack. He said the response by Iran to the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate was “dangerous”, but the Damascus attack that killed Iranian generals was also wrong.
“It is an extremely flagrant abuse of international law, and a very dangerous response to the attack by Israel on the consulate in Damascus, which in my view was wrong also,” the Tánaiste said on RTÉ’s This Week programme.
“Iran has been a malign actor in the Middle East for quite some time. It has been supporting Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen, and that perhaps hasn’t been called out to the degree that it should have been.”
Mr Martin said it was those living in the region who suffer from the conflict but a war could also have implications beyond the Middle East.
“The last thing the world needs is a regional conflict involving Israel and Iran, which would have horrendous consequences for lives and livelihoods in the region, but also for the wider world,” he said. “There is now an urgent need for regional de-escalation. Further escalation is in nobody’s interest. I urge all actors to intensify efforts to restore stability. Ireland will work closely with our EU partners in responding to this crisis.”
Leaders of the G7 “unequivocally” condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and warned that the risk of an “uncontrollable regional escalation” must be avoided.