Brazil urges global efforts to prevent escalation after Iranian attack against Israel

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Brazil urged the global community on Sunday to come together to prevent a further escalation following an Iranian attack against Israel.

“The Brazilian government is closely monitoring, with serious concern, reports of Iran sending drones and missiles towards Israel, putting neighboring countries like Jordan and Syria on alert,” the country’s foreign minister said in a statement.

The statement added that Brazil has been cautioning about “the destructive potential” of hostilities to areas beyond the Gaza Strip, including the West Bank, as well as countries like Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and now Iran.

“The Brazilian government recommends that non-essential travel to the region not be undertaken and that nationals already in those countries follow the guidance provided on the websites and social media of Brazilian embassies,” it said.

It added that the foreign ministry has been watching the situation of its citizens in the region since October.

Another Latin American nation, Uruguay, Sunday condemned Iran for its attacks and expressed sadness for the worsening of the conflict in the Middle East.

Iran began an airborne attack Saturday against Israel in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic facility in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The strike killed at least seven members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two top generals.

Iran has accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed to respond. Tel Aviv has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack but it has for months carried out several strikes against Iranian targets across Syria.

Iran and Hezbollah, its main ally in Lebanon, have said the attack will not go unpunished.