US senator condemns Netanyahu’s 'unilateral' attack on Iran, warns of escalation

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Senator Bernie Sanders on Friday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "unilateral" attack on Iran and warned that it could trigger a broader regional war.

"The world is more dangerous and unstable as a result of the extremist Netanyahu’s government ongoing defiance of international law.

"First, he uses the starvation of children in Gaza as a tool of war, a barbaric violation of the Geneva Conventions. Now, his illegal unilateral attack on Iran risks a full-blown regional war," Sanders said in a statement.

Israeli forces attacked Iran in the early hours of Friday, hitting nuclear and missile facilities and killing top military commanders and scientists. Iran has vowed a harsh response.

"These strikes also directly contravened the express wishes of the United States, which was seeking a diplomatic resolution to the long-standing tensions around Iran’s nuclear program. Talks were planned for Sunday, but Netanyahu chose instead to launch an attack," Sanders said, warning that the US should not be dragged into "another Netanyahu war."

The US, along with the international community, should do "everything possible" to prevent an escalation of this conflict and bring the warring parties to the negotiating table, he said.