EU warns of ‘dangerous regional war’ as Iran and Israel trade blows

Iran’s overnight attack on Israel could spiral into a far wider conflict, the EU has warned, as the two countries face off in an escalating exchange that threatens to engulf the entire Middle East.

In a statement first seen by POLITICO Tuesday night, the European Commission’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Peter Stano, said the bloc “condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s attacks with ballistic missiles against Israel, which constitute a serious threat to regional security.”

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz both condemned Iran’s attack and stressed the need to avoid further escalation in separate calls with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to Downing Street readouts of the calls.

Hundreds of missiles were fired at Israel on Tuesday evening, with its armed forces cautioning civilians to take shelter in bunkers in towns and cities across the country. The barrage came hours after the Israeli army launched what it called “localized and targeted ground raids” in neighboring Lebanon, forcing as many as 100,000 residents to flee their homes, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

At the same time, Stano hinted that both sides were to blame for the escalations: “Successive waves of attacks and retaliations have been fueling an uncontrollable spiral of conflict,” he said. “The EU remains fully committed to contribute to lower the tensions and to avert a dangerous regional war.”

On Friday, Israel conducted an airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, that killed Hezbollah’s long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah. In August, meanwhile, Israeli intelligence killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while the militant group’s leader was in Tehran for the inauguration of the country’s new president, Mahmoud Peszkesian.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock added her voice to those calling for restraint, saying “we have urgently warned Iran about this dangerous escalation. Iran must stop the attack immediately. It is driving the region further to the brink of the abyss.”

And Starmer, after emphasizing that his country stands with Israel, said: “I am deeply concerned that the region is on the brink and I am deeply concerned about the risk of miscalculation.”

The dramatic escalation in the conflict comes after almost a year of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the militant group that controls much of south Lebanon and is part of the Iran-backed ‘Axis of Resistance’ that has stepped up attacks since the start of the war in Gaza.

Since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, Israel’s military offensive in the Palestinian exclave has killed more than 40,000 people, according to local health officials.

This article has been updated with a statement from Keir Starmer and information from Downing Street.

Dan Bloom and Joe Stanley-Smith contributed to this report.