Arabic version: قادة الاتحاد الأوروبي يقفون مع دول الخليج ضد العدوان الإيراني

European Union leaders have voiced their support for Gulf Arab nations as Iran escalates its missile and drone strikes against targets in the region. This response follows attacks by the United States and Israel. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, alongside other European leaders, engaged in discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) officials in Brussels, condemning what they termed as “Iran’s inexcusable attacks against the GCC countries”. According to Al Jazeera,

The leaders issued a joint EU-GCC statement, strongly denouncing the Iranian strikes, which they believe jeopardize both regional and global security. They called for Iran to halt its attacks immediately, emphasizing that Gulf nations have the right to take necessary actions to defend their security and protect their territories, citizens, and residents.

The discussions in Brussels come at a time of escalating violence, with reports indicating that US-Israeli actions against Iran have resulted in over 1,230 fatalities since the previous Saturday, according to Iranian state media. The conflict has also seen Israel extend its military operations into Lebanon, while the US recently reported sinking an Iranian frigate, resulting in significant casualties.

Iran’s ongoing strikes have targeted several countries in the region, including Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, with particular focus on energy infrastructure, raising concerns about potential impacts on global energy markets. In response to the deteriorating situation, France and the United Kingdom announced plans to deploy warships and air defense assets to Cyprus. Italy has also committed to sending naval assets and air defense systems to support its Gulf allies in the coming days.