European Union leaders decided on Wednesday to increase sanctions against Iran following Tehran’s missile and drone strike on Israel, which heightened concerns about a broader conflict in the Middle East.
This summit in Brussels marks the EU’s first gathering of its 27 member states’ leaders since the attack occurred on Saturday. It comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Hamas militant group, which have been engaged in conflict for over six months.
While Israel has indicated it will retaliate against Iran for the attack, it has not disclosed its specific plans. EU leaders condemned Iran’s actions, reaffirming their support for Israel’s security. They also urged all parties to prevent further escalations, including in Lebanon.
In a joint statement, the leaders announced their intention to impose additional sanctions on Iran, particularly targeting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles.
Iran recently launched hundreds of drones and missiles toward Israel in an unprecedented attack, retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria three weeks prior.
This escalation occurred amidst Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza, which has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties and heightened regional tensions. The Israeli military reported intercepting over 99% of the Iranian projectiles with assistance from allied forces.
The attacks triggered air raid sirens across Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, with some projectiles intercepted, causing minor damage and injuries.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attack, citing it as part of Operation True Promise in response to the consulate raid, which resulted in casualties, including high-ranking IRGC members.
Iran has warned Israel of further consequences if provoked again and cautioned the US to refrain from involvement.
