VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis made an appeal against a “spiral of violence” after Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel, warning of a potential regional conflagration.
“I want an end to any action which could fuel a spiral of violence that risks dragging the Middle East into an even greater conflict,” the Argentinian pontiff declared following his traditional Sunday prayer in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
“I am praying and following with concern, but also pain, the news that has come about the worsening situation in Israel due to Iran’s intervention,” the pope said.
He said, “No one should threaten the existence of others. All countries must side with peace and help Israelis and Palestinians to live in two states, side by side and in security,” he said.
“That is their right,” Pope said as he once again repeated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and negotiation.
The pontiff demanded the world “help the population facing a humanitarian crisis” in Gaza and urged the “immediate release of the hostages kidnapped months ago” by Hamas, setting in train the latest chapter of violence in the region.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that Tehran targeted only Israeli military bases.
He disclosed this in a meeting with resident ambassadors in Iran on Sunday. Abdollahian said, “The restraint in legitimate defense and punishment of the Zionist regime means that we did not define any non-military target in our response.”
“Our armed forces did not target any economic or civilian location,” Tehran Times quoted Abdollahian as saying.
Given the recent anti-Israeli operation, Iran’s foreign minister stressed that operations were carried out that effectively targeted the intelligence center and the eye of the Zionist regime for directing all operations of the past six months, including the recent operation on the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus.
Irani FM went on to add, “Even in the attack on the military base, which was the operational center of the Zionist regime against the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus, the necessary precision for dealing with and responding to the Zionist regime was considered.”
“Our sole goal in legitimate defense is to punish the Israeli regime,” the minister said.
