Iraq Condemns Israeli Strikes on Iran, Calls UN Emergency Meeting

A wave of international condemnation and calls for restraint followed Israel's coordinated pre-dawn military strikes on over 100 sites in Iran, which targeted key military and nuclear facilities and resulted in the deaths of several top Iranian commanders and scientists. Iran described the attacks as a declaration of war and accused the United States of complicity, a claim denied by U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who emphasized that Israel acted independently and that the U.S. is focused on protecting its forces in the region. Iraq strongly condemned the strikes as violations of international law and the UN Charter, urging the UN Security Council to take decisive action to deter further aggression and restore international legal order, while also witnessing protests by Iran-aligned armed factions within Baghdad. Regional actors like the Gulf Cooperation Council and Saudi Arabia stressed the need for a unified and coordinated regional response, warning that the attacks exacerbate tensions and threaten regional and global stability. Iran vowed a firm response to the aggression, having already launched retaliatory drone assaults, as Israeli officials indicated these strikes mark the beginning of a broader campaign to disrupt Iran's nuclear ambitions. Overall, the situation has heightened fears of a wider conflict that could rapidly escalate beyond Iran and Israel, with global appeals urging de-escalation and diplomatic solutions.