French, UK leaders urge Israel not to respond to Iran’s attack

French President Emmanuel Macron has called Iran’s attack on Israel “disproportionate” to Israel’s strike on Tehran’s embassy in Syria.

“We will do everything we can to avoid escalation and convince Israel it should not reply to Iran’s strike with further escalation,” Macron told French media.

France will stand by Israel’s side to “ensure its protection” and Macron said he’ll speak to Netanyahu later today.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also urged Israel not to retaliate, saying the focus should remain on a ceasefire in Gaza.

“If you’re sitting in Israel this morning, you’re thinking quite rightly we have every right to respond to this and they do. But we are urging that they shouldn’t escalate,” Cameron told Sky News.

“In many ways, this has been a double defeat for Iran. The attack was an almost total failure, and they revealed to the world they are the malign influence in the region. So our hope is there won’t be a retaliatory response.”