Israel has carried out political terrorism that violates all international laws to which it is a signatory, said a former U.S. diplomat following Israel's Saturday attack on Iran.
Israel said Saturday that it had completed waves of pre-dawn airstrikes on military targets in Iran in what it called a retaliatory move to recent months of attacks from Iran, with Iran reporting that it had successfully countered the Israeli assault.
Iran said that Israel's Saturday attack is a violation of international law.
"That's stating the obvious. The Israelis have been calling it 'self-defense,' but they have been practicing the 'self-defense' in Beirut, in the West Bank, in Gaza, in Damascus as well as in Yemen, and in Tehran itself. Prior to this latest attack, they assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran. Now when you cross borders to assassinate essentially political leaders, you are not meeting someone on the battlefield, and therefore shooting and somebody shooting back, you are assassinating them while they are in a hotel, in an apartment building, and in the capital of another country. This is clearly an act of political terrorism that violates all international laws, laws which Israel in principle had signed up to years ago," said Nabeel Khoury, a Non-resident Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC and former U.S. diplomat.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement early Saturday that it launched "precise and targeted" air strikes on targets in several areas in Iran, including missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missile arrays, and additional Iranian aerial capabilities.
Iranian eyewitnesses said that loud explosions were heard around the country's capital Tehran early Saturday. Shortly afterward, Iranian media reported that Iran's air defense was engaged against Israeli strike attempts.
Iran's air defense headquarters successfully countered the Israeli attack, which resulted in "limited damage," Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
Two Iranian soldiers were killed following the Israeli attacks, Iran's army said.
Also early on Saturday, the Syrian Defense Ministry reported that Israeli forces launched a series of airstrikes against military sites in Syria's southern and central regions.
The strikes, reportedly carried out at around 02:00 local time (2300 GMT Friday), involved missiles launched from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Lebanese airspace.
Israel's political terrorism violates international laws: former US diplomat
Various voices from the international community strongly endorsed Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the 16th BRICS Summit, emphasizing China’s commitment to high-quality development, enhanced BRICS cooperation, and solidarity within the Global South.
Xi attended the 16th BRICS Summit from Tuesday to Thursday in Russia's Kazan, where he also held in-depth discussions with world leaders on BRICS cooperation, bilateral relations, and the current international situation.
During the summit, Xi elaborated on the direction and fundamental principles of greater BRICS cooperation, emphasizing that BRICS nations had gathered in pursuit of shared goals. He called for joint efforts to make BRICS a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations, as well as a vanguard for advancing global governance reform.
Alexander Babakov, deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma, emphasized the significance of Xi's proposals for BRICS, noting their clarity on key points crucial to the cooperation mechanism's future.
"I believe that President Xi's proposals have clarified several points that are extremely important at this stage for the future of the BRICS cooperation mechanism," he said.
"President Xi Jinping delivered a landmark speech in which he called upon the world community to work together for the security of all, development of all, and progress of all," said Sudheendra Kulkarni, founder and former chairman of the Forum for a New South Asia.
Dennis Munene Mwaniki, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute, said that the vision for inclusive development resonated particularly strongly with African perspectives.
"President Xi Jinping has been pushing [the idea] that all humanity needs to enjoy high-quality development. No one should be told that they don't deserve that. So by bringing [together] the greater BRICS and pushing for the greater BRICS, this is going to show that [as] more countries join BRICS, more countries get to enjoy the benefits," he said.
Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Temir Sariyev drew parallels between Xi's Global South initiatives and the Belt and Road Initiative, emphasizing China's willingness to share its modernization experience and promote common development.
"President Xi Jinping said in his speech that China cares about the 'Global South' and is willing to move forward together with developing countries in the Global South. I think this is similar to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China. China has rich experience in modernization and is willing to help, share achievements, invest, and open up to provide learning opportunities for other countries. This shows that China's policy is not to seize other countries' interests but to promote common development for all," Sariyev said.
In the academic sphere, Professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumi of the University of Dhaka highlighted China's consistent efforts in promoting South-South collaboration through platforms like BRICS.
"President Xi has been driving South-South Collaboration for quite some time. And BRICS is one of those Chinese initiatives where they are trying to promote a shared prosperity. Because the world, and particularly the developing world, is struggling [in] their modernization drive because they want to see a recovery that is shared by its citizens," he said.
International observers also noted the significance of Xi's proposals for improving global governance.
"Since Xi Jinping became the Chinese President, he has tried to promote multilateralism in the world through various initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS. This is his attempt to enable sovereign states to play a bigger role," said Alireza Shiravi, director general of the Foreign Media Department at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in Tehran.
Willy Meyer Pleite, former Member of the European Parliament, emphasized the importance of Xi's vision for new international relations based on peace, cooperation, and fair trade.
"I think President Xi highlighted in his speech the importance of establishing a new model of international relations based on peace and cooperation, with a focus on sustainability and trade cooperation. The BRICS members offer an alternative concept, which is a commitment to multilateralism with respect for fair trade for all people in different countries," he said.
Int'l community lauds Xi's vision for greater BRICS, Global South solidarity
