Iran responds to Israeli air strike on consulate
On 1 April, an Israeli air strike bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing multiple senior Iranian officials. In response, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, assured that Israel “will regret [the consulate bombing],” while Iran’s ambassador to Syria stressed that “Israel crossed red lines.”
Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel after vowing retaliation for a deadly strike on its consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus. Right-wing Western outlets that have proven themselves to be biased in favour of supporting Israel amidst the war in Gaza declared that Iran is now at war with the West.
The escalation in the region has put Western leaders and its allies on high alert, calling for ‘restraint’ amid fears of an all-out global war. However, their responses have been criticised for the immediate outcry against Iran despite relative six months of hesitation following Israel’s ongoing war against Palestine.
Interviewed by Sky News, UK foreign secretary David Cameron was asked what the UK should do if one of its consulates was flattened by a hostile power. He said, “Countries have a right to respond when they feel they’ve suffered aggression” – but went on to call for calm and restraint from Iran.
What would the #UK do if one of our consulates was flattened by a hostile power?
“Countries have a right to respond when they feel they’ve suffered an aggression”
Foreign Secretary @David_Cameron#KayBurley SS pic.twitter.com/rkAAZ1KLEa
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) April 15, 2024
In recent years, Iran has strengthened its ties with Russia, North Korea and China. Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, said they were hoping tensions would not spiral out of control. “We express our extreme concern over another dangerous escalation in the region,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on the Iranian attacks. “We call on all parties involved to exercise restraint.” China issued a statement through a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson which read, “China calls on relevant parties to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of tensions”.
Iran’s response has divided right-wing media through the confusing conflation between the people of Iran and the Islamic Republic. For over a century, the Iranian people have struggled for democracy. During the last 40 years, after the ousting of the Shah, the Iranian people have been subjugated by an oppressive theocracy called the “Islamic Republic,” with a religious “Supreme Leader” overseeing all aspects of Iranian life. As a result, the people of Iran live under systematic oppression and abuse, and the extremism of Sharia law.
However, in terms of media response, even those outlets that had previously shown support for Palestinians have changed their tune, opting to support Israel against what can only be assumed as what they believe to be a bigger enemy.
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