Modi Urges Civilian Protection in Call With Netanyahu as Middle East Conflict Widens Beyond Israel and Iran

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the rapidly escalating conflict in West Asia, stressing the protection of civilians and calling for an early cessation of hostilities as fighting between Israel and Iran widened across the region.

Image Source: GPOIsrael

In a statement posted on social media, Modi said he conveyed India’s concerns over recent developments and emphasised that civilian safety must remain the foremost priority amid intensifying military exchanges. India reiterated its position supporting an early halt to violence and the restoration of stability in a region facing expanding cross-border strikes and growing humanitarian risks.

The conversation came as Israel continued large-scale military operations against targets inside Iran following joint U.S.–Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks across Israel and several Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets. Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across Israeli cities, while rescue services reported casualties and damage from missile impacts, including a deadly strike on a synagogue in central Israel.

שוחחתי בטלפון עם ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו כדי לדון במצב האזורי הנוכחי. הבעתי את דאגתה של הודו לנוכח ההתפתחויות האחרונות, והדגשתי כי ביטחון האזרחים נמצא בעדיפות עליונה. הודו שבה ומדגישה את הצורך בהפסקת פעולות האיבה בהקדם.@netanyahu

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2026

Iran’s retaliatory campaign extended beyond Israel, with projectiles and intercepted debris causing incidents across the Gulf, including damage to infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates. Authorities in Dubai confirmed injuries following an incident at Dubai International Airport and fires linked to aerial interceptions, while Abu Dhabi reported casualties after debris fell near aviation facilities. Regional airspace closures disrupted thousands of flights, stranding travellers and forcing airlines to suspend operations across key global aviation hubs.

Explosions and interception activity were also reported in Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait as air defence systems engaged incoming missiles and drones. Several governments urged residents to seek shelter, and multiple U.S. embassies across the Middle East issued security advisories instructing citizens to remain indoors amid fears of further escalation.

The widening confrontation has prompted international calls for restraint, with world leaders warning that continued retaliation risks pushing the Middle East into a broader regional war with global economic and security consequences. Energy markets, aviation routes and maritime traffic near the Strait of Hormuz — a critical oil transit corridor — have already faced disruptions as military operations continued into a second day.

India, which maintains close strategic ties with both Israel and Gulf nations and has one of the largest expatriate populations in the region, has repeatedly called for dialogue and de-escalation while monitoring the safety of Indian nationals amid the rapidly evolving security situation.