UPDATE - Arab nations call for restraint amid Iran-Israel tensions

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS BY UAE, BAHRAIN, TUNISIA; CHANGES DECK, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Ibrahim Al-Khazen

CAIRO (AA) - Arab countries on Sunday called for restraint and de-escalation in the wake of Iran's military retaliation against Israel.

In separate statements, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq urged maximum restraint and halting escalation in the region.

Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday night in response to an April 1 strike in Damascus that killed several Iranian commanders.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry called on all the involved parties to exercise utmost restraint to mitigate the risk of war.

Qatar called on all parties concerned to halt escalation, urging the international community to act promptly to defuse tension in the region.

Oman and Kuwait also stressed the importance of restraint to avoid regional war risks.

Egypt emphasized continuous engagement with all parties concerned to prevent the region from sliding into dangerous instability, while Jordan called for restraint and responsible conduct.

The UAE's Foreign Ministry also called for "exercising maximum restraint to avoid serious repercussions and prevent the region from sliding into new levels of instability."

Similarly, Bahrain's Foreign Ministry called for "commitment to de-escalation, restraint, and avoiding escalation to spare the peoples of the region from the consequences of this dangerous escalation."

Tunisia's Foreign Ministry said "allowing Israel to continue violating international law with impunity will lead to grave consequences that threaten the security and stability of the region."

The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem Al-Bedaiwi, urged involved parties to exercise restraint to prevent any further escalation that threatens the stability of the region.

Hamas, for its part, called Iran's military operation against Israel a natural and deserved response to the crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

Iran is said to have fired more than 300 drones and missiles in an attack that lasted several hours, many of which were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems.

IRGC commander Gen. Hossein Salami told reporters in Tehran on Sunday that the operation was successful more than they had expected.

Speculation is rife that Israel could retaliate, which may trigger an all-out regional war.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul