Italy calls G7 leaders’ meeting over Iran's retaliatory strikes on Israel

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Following Iran's retaliatory strikes on Israel, Italy on Sunday called a G7 leaders’ meeting to discuss the issue.

"The Italian Presidency of the G7 has called a leaders’ meeting in remote format for early this afternoon, to discuss Iran’s attack against Israel," the Italian government said in a statement.

Reiterating Italy's condemnation of Iranian attacks, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also said that the G7 leaders will have a video conference Sunday afternoon.

On X, she also expressed concern about further destabilization of the region.

"We are following with attention and concern what is happening in the Middle East," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on late Saturday.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel late on Saturday in response to the April 1 attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

The attack, which killed seven Iranian military officials, including a senior IRGC commander, drew sharp reactions from the Iranian government officials, who vowed "decisive response."

According to some unconfirmed reports, IRGC fired more than 300 drones and missiles in an attack that lasted several hours, many of which were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems.