Nigeria has condemned Israel’s attack on Iran and called for peace between both parties, as both sides continue attacks on Saturday and announce deaths and casualties.
“The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria condemns Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran that has led to an escalation of hostilities between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel,” Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.
“Nigeria expresses its grave concern and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urges both parties to exercise utmost restraint in the interest of regional and global peace,” the ministry said.
“The continued cycle of retaliation not only endangers civilian lives but threatens to plunge the broader Middle East into further instability, with implications for international security and economic development.”
Israeli authorities have reported that three people have been killed and dozens of others injured by Iranian retaliatory strikes, while Iran has reported 78 deaths and 320 others wounded from Israeli strikes.
Still, both sides have promised that more airstrikes and missiles are on the way. The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, said Iranian missiles were targeted at residential areas and the civilian population and for this, Tehran had “crossed red lines”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also promised that “more is on the way.”
Meanwhile, Iran has vowed a “crushing response” to the Israeli attack and said it would intensify its attacks.
PREMIUM TIMES reports that the long-running conflict between the countries escalated after Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran, which killed three of its top commanders and six nuclear scientists.
Hours later, the Iranian military carried out retaliatory strikes that targeted Israel using ballistic missiles and drones.
(Premium Times)
