Global Leaders Urge De-escalation as Israel Confirms Coordinated Strikes on Iran

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Israel’s large-scale military strikes against Iran, which have sharply heightened global concerns over a broader Middle East conflict.

While Macron’s office did not release details of his conversation, Starmer’s office said the British leader affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense while expressing serious concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. 

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Starmer also stressed the need for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution to prevent further instability in the region. British officials declined to comment on whether London was informed of the Israeli strikes in advance.

The military operation, described as one of Israel’s most extensive cross-border assaults in decades, comes amid escalating fears over Iran’s nuclear program. According to Israeli officials, the strikes targeted over 100 sites using more than 200 aircraft. 

The attacks struck Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, missile depots, and key military leadership figures. Among those killed were Gen. 

Mohammad Bagheri, head of Iran’s armed forces; Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the Revolutionary Guard; and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who led the Guard’s ballistic missile program, according to the Associated Press.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said the plan for these strikes had been in place since November 2024, following the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He stated the operation had originally been scheduled for April but was delayed. 

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel was forced to act as intelligence indicated that Iran had secretly advanced toward nuclear weapon capability, including uranium enrichment, warhead delivery systems, and triggering mechanisms.

Ambassador Danny Danon, addressing reporters at the United Nations, alleged without providing evidence that Iran was planning a coordinated surprise attack on Israel using thousands of projectiles and involving multiple proxy groups. 

Danon claimed this emerging threat left Israel with no choice but to launch a preemptive strike. The situation remains highly volatile, with global powers urging restraint. 

The international community continues to monitor developments closely amid fears that the conflict could spiral into a wider regional war.