Iran’s unprecedented direct attack on Israeli soil has raised profound concern about the possibility of a cycle of escalating mutual retaliation leading to uncontrollable conflict between military powers.
To prevent the conflict from spreading to the Middle East and globally, we strongly demand level-headed restraint from both Iran and Israel. It is time for the international community to make maximum diplomatic efforts to avert a full-blown global security crisis.
On April 14, Iran attacked Israel with approximately 350 missiles and drones. The Israeli military, with assistance from the United States, Britain and others, intercepted almost all of them. There appear to be no fatalities.
On April 1, warplanes struck a building that is part of the Iranian Embassy complex in Syria, killing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders and officers. Iran has blamed the air strikes on Israel and claims its missile and drone attack was a legitimate exercise of self-defense under the United Nations Charter.
Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran has been hostile to Israel, but this is the first time it has directly attacked Israeli territory with its military force.
This is clearly a different level of military operation against Israel by Tehran, compared to its previous tactics such as cyber-attacks, assassinations of top officials, or attacks carried out by overseas militant groups it supports.
The U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting, where countries called for de-escalation. No one benefits if the conflict spreads across the Middle East, a critical area for global energy supplies and logistics.
The United States, Europe, China and Russia should collaborate to address this crisis without allowing their actions and responses to be influenced by their confrontations in other areas such as Ukraine or the South China Sea.
Although the scale of Iran's attack was significant, it was nevertheless carried out in a measured way with limited targets, weapons and tactics.
Iran notified neighboring countries 72 hours before the operation and publicly announced the missile and drone launches, allowing time for interception. The targets were also chosen to avoid densely populated areas.
Iran’s top military officer has declared the “operation yielded its complete result” and “there is no intention to continue it,” suggesting a desire to bring an end to this crisis. The Iranian military should act strictly in line with these words.
Israel should also refrain from retaliation or provocative actions. The international community has become increasingly critical of Israel's military operations in Gaza, which have caused more than 33,000 deaths and a humanitarian crisis.
Any behavior that could further escalate the conflict will only deepen Israel's isolation.
The U.S. administration of President Joe Biden has wisely stated that it does not desire a war with Iran.
As Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, it is crucial to deter the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which is supported by extremely hard-line rightist forces, from taking a reckless course toward all-out war with Iran.
The United States, as Israel’s leading ally providing massive military support to the Jewish state, should fulfill its responsibility to use its clout with Israel to forestall such a nightmare scenario.
Japan relies on the Middle East for 90 percent of its crude oil consumption and stability in the region is essential for its security.
Tokyo has maintained diplomatic relations with Iran that differ from Washington’s policy toward the nation, while its economic ties with Israel are deepening.
Japan has a clear interest in working closely with the United States and Europe to help de-escalate the situation.
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 16
EDITORIAL: Maximum efforts needed to stop Iran-Israel crisis from escalating
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16.04.2024
Iran’s unprecedented direct attack on Israeli soil has raised profound concern about the possibility of a cycle of escalating mutual retaliation leading to uncontrollable conflict between military powers.
To prevent the conflict from spreading to the Middle East and globally, we strongly demand level-headed restraint from both Iran and Israel. It is time for the international community to make maximum diplomatic efforts to avert a full-blown global security crisis.
On April 14, Iran attacked Israel with approximately 350 missiles and drones. The Israeli military, with assistance from the United States, Britain and others, intercepted almost all of them. There appear to be no fatalities.
On April 1, warplanes struck a building that is part of the Iranian Embassy complex in Syria, killing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders and officers. Iran has blamed the air strikes on Israel and claims its missile and drone attack was a legitimate........
© The Asahi Shimbun
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