ISTANBUL

Arab countries denounced on Friday Israel’s latest military strikes on Iran.

“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,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Qatar called the dangerous escalation part of Israel’s recurring aggressive policy that threatens the region’s security and stability and hinders diplomatic efforts to lower regional tension.

“The State of Qatar also reaffirms its firm position rejecting all forms of violence and escalation and calls for self-restraint to avoid further escalation that would widen the conflict and undermine regional peace and stability,” the ministry added.

The United Arab Emirates also strongly condemned Israel’s targeting of Iran and expressed deep concern over the ongoing escalation and its repercussions on regional security and stability.

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

It urged the use of diplomatic means to resolve regional disputes over military confrontations and called on the UN to take immediate measures to maintain regional and international security.

Egypt also condemned the Israeli military attack and warned against the possible “unprecedented repercussions on the security and the stability of the Middle East.”

Palestinian group Hamas stated its firm denunciation of the large-scale aggression that “the Zionist (Israeli) occupation launched on the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The latest escalation reflects “the insistence of the extremist Netanyahu government to drag the region into open confrontations,” Hamas said.

Israel launched a sweeping military operation against Iran early Friday, with 200 planes targeting its nuclear program and long-range missile capabilities. Senior military officials and nuclear scientists were killed in the attack.