International community ‘must hold Israel to account’ over Iran attack – Swinney

John Swinney has said the international community must “hold Israel to account” as he called for de-escalation in the Middle East following overnight air strikes.

Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear programme and top military commanders in the attacks, which are believed to have damaged the enrichment facility at Natanz and killed the leader of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards General Hossein Salami.

Iran responded with a wave of drone attacks against Israel, which has declared a state of emergency.

Coming on top of the humanitarian tragedy that is unfolding in Gaza, the situation needs to be de-escalated as an absolute matter of priority

Analysts have said the exchange between the two long-time adversaries could lead to further escalations.

Mr Swinney was asked about the developments at the British-Irish Council summit in Northern Ireland.

He told the PA news agency that the situation is “deeply, deeply troubling”.

Mr Swinney said: “The sense of danger is enormous in the Middle East as a consequence of this major escalation of the engagement between Israel and Iran.

“I make an appeal for the international community to hold Israel to account, this must be de-escalated.

“Coming on top of the humanitarian tragedy that is unfolding in Gaza, the situation needs to be de-escalated as an absolute matter of priority.”

He said the international community must act “formidably and with resolve” to de-escalate the situation.

As political leaders in the UK reacted to the developments, Sir Keir Starmer has said that stability should be the priority in the region, calling for “restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy”.

A Downing Street spokesman said the UK is “working closely with all our allies to press for that diplomatic solution”, adding that Iran’s nuclear programme is “more advanced than ever, and it is a clear threat to international peace and security”.

Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that Iran acquiring nuclear weapons would be “the real escalation”, but agreed that de-escalation is needed.

She told journalists at the Scottish Conservative conference: “But if Israel sees Iran getting nuclear weapons, I don’t think it should sit back and put its feet up and say: ‘Well, we’re de-escalating’.

“Because the person, the country, that will escalate is Iran, and that would be absolutely disastrous for the entire world.”