Israel likely to carry out counterattack on Iran: Finnish president

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) – Finland's president on Monday warned that based on recent statements, Tel Aviv is likely to carry out some kind of counterattack after Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend.

Alexander Stubb emphasized the critical importance of de-escalation “in the current tense situation in the Middle East” at a press conference in Helsinki after meeting with the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy (TP-UTVA) earlier that morning.

The president however said that one positive aspect was that China, the US, the EU and others were making every effort to avoid such a retaliatory strike, according to country’s national broadcaster Yle.

Tehran launched more than 300 missile and drone attacks across Israel on Saturday evening in a retaliation to a Tel Aviv’s airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syrian capital Damascus on April 1 in which seven members of Revolutionary Guards including two generals were killed.

On Sunday, Stubb and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo condemned the attack, calling on "all parties to show restraint."

“Finland and the EU are making efforts to influence all parties to refrain from actions that further undermine regional security. Finland will maintain active contact with the countries in the region," the press release stated.

Stubb pointed out that even before Iran's attack, members of Finland's foreign policy leadership had tried to calm growing tensions, Yle reported.

Helsinki will continue to work on ensuring that no further strikes occur, the president said, adding that Finland was aware of 201 Finnish nationals in Lebanon, including civilians, embassy staff and "especially our Unifil troops."

"Right now, the situation seems to have calmed down," he said.

On the situation in Gaza, Stubb reiterated that the main objective continues to be reaching a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages.

Since Tel Aviv launched it war on Gaza Strip more than 33,000 have been killed, 70% of them are women and children, while over 70, 000 are injured, with many missing and uncounted for, according to Gaza health authorities.

Stubb addressed Finns who may be seeing a great amount of news about current conflicts around the globe, including in Ukraine and the Middle East, reassuring them that there is no such conflict in Finland and that Finns were making every effort to resolve conflicts elsewhere.

"If children are afraid and ask their parents questions about these difficult issues, I hope that they can be dealt with at home. I don't remember seeing so much war when I was young," Stubb said towards the end of press conference.