Hot and cold: How has the world responded to Israel's Iran strikes?

Israel has inflamed tensions in the MENA region after targeting Iran with a series of overnight strikes, hitting nuclear and military sites as well as residential areas, causing global outrage... and some support.

Since the strikes, Iran has threatened Israel with a strong response and launched around 100 drones in retaliation, as Israelis headed to shelters in Tel Aviv and other cities.

The attacks have sent shockwaves around the region, grounding flights and causing a temporary closure of airspaces.

Kuwait’s Directorate of Civil Aviation said it had cancelled, transferred, and rescheduled many flights at Kuwait International Airport following the strikes.

The New Arab examines the diverse international reactions to the strikes on Iran.

Global condemnation of Israel’s actions

Countries around the world denounced the strikes on Iran, which struck residential areas, wounding scores of people, including children, and left civilians in shock.

Among the nations that swiftly slammed the assault are Japan, China, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he "strongly condemned the dangerous Israeli aggression against Iran", adding that the attacks constitute "a flagrant violation of international law and Iran’s sovereignty".

Turkey’s presidential spokesperson Fahrettin al-Tun issued a similar statement on X, saying that they "extend their condolences to the Iranian people and their government".

"Once again, [Israel] shows the international community how dangerous the Netanyahu government is to regional and global peace, and the failure of the international community to respond to the developments that began with the Israeli aggression on Gaza which became a threat to world peace," the statement read.

Al-Tun confirmed that Turkey will continue working for regional and global peace, "confronting Israel’s reckless position that ignores international law".

Jordan expressed condemnation of the attack, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi discussing the consequences of the Israeli aggression on the security and stability of the region with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

The pair also discussed Qatar’s efforts with Egypt and the US in reaching an agreement that would lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as tensions engulf the region.  

Safadi also called Cyprus Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kompos, discussing the strikes with the latter, who said his country would receive any Royal Jordanian flights if a decision were made to divert their routes, allowing them to land in Cyprus and provide facilities to Jordanian citizens on board.

Egypt said it was following the situation with great concern, calling the attack on Iran a violation of the Charter of the United Nations.

Egypt’s foreign minister warned against inflaming tensions in the region and urged for peaceful solutions.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, also making it clear that the attack violated international law.

NATO chief Mark Rutte said it was now "crucial" for allies of Israel to work to de-escalate tensions.

"This was a unilateral action by Israel," Rutte said, speaking alongside Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, while noting it was "obviously a rapidly evolving situation".

Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis weigh in

Other groups from around the region, including Hamas and Hezbollah, have weighed in on the recent confrontations.

A statement from Hezbollah secretary-general Sheikh Naim Qassem strongly condemned Israel’s attacks, saying that it was supported by the US administration.

"There is no justification for this Israeli aggression other than silencing the voice of truth in support of Palestinians in Gaza," he said, adding "this aggression will significantly effect stability in the region and will not go unpunished, as Iran is the flame of the free, dignified and proud".

The leader went on to "congratulate and console" Iran before offering condolences to those killed in the strikes, saying that he supports Iran "in its rights and position, as well as measures it takes to defend itself and its choices".

However, Lebanon's government reportedly informed Hezbollah that it would not tolerate them joining in with Iran's retaliation to Israel, fearing grave repercussions for the country. 

"The time when the organisation bypassed the state in deciding to go to war is over," the group was told, according to the report.

Reports added that the group was warned they would bear full responsibility if the country was dragged into war.

Yemen’s Houthis responded by saying that Iran had the right to defend itself and develop its nuclear programme.

"We support Iran's full and legitimate right to defend itself and to develop its nuclear programme," the Houthis' political bureau said in a statement on Telegram, adding "we strongly condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and affirm its full and legitimate right to respond by all possible means".

Support for the strikes

Both the US and Germany expressed a degree of support for Israel’s strikes on Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about Israel's attack on Iran in a phone call on Friday morning, the latter said in a statement.

The statement added that Israel has a right to defend itself and that Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, however it noted that both sides should refrain from escalating matters further.

US President Donald Trump said Washington would help defend Israel "if needed" in comments made during a private phone call with Fox News host Bret Baier, who conveyed the message in televised remarks.

It was also revealed that Trump was aware of Israel’s strikes before they started but had no role in them.

Reports further state that Trump spoke with Netanyahu several times this week ahead of the strikes and said the goal was to drive Tehran back to the negotiating table as talks over de-escalating the Iranian nuclear programme continue.