Israel FM says expects allies to attack Iran if it strikes

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz (C) poses for a picture with his French and British counterparts Stephane Sejourne (R) and David Lammy, ahead of their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. (AFP)
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Updated 16 August 2024
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Israel FM says expects allies to attack Iran if it strikes

LONDON: Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told his French and British counterparts Friday that his country expects support “in attacking” Iran if it strikes Israel.
“If Iran attacks, we expect the coalition to join Israel not only in defense but also in attacking significant targets in Iran,” Katz told his French and UK counterparts during their visit to Israel.

British and French foreign ministers visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to call for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and a de-escalation in any wider conflict in the Middle East.
The visit by Britain’s David Lammy and France’s Stephane Sejourne comes as a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks was underway in Doha, an effort to end 10 months of fighting in the Palestinian enclave and bring 115 Israeli and foreign hostages home.
The talks came as Iran appeared on the point of retaliating against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
“This is a dangerous moment for the Middle East,” Lammy said in a statement. “The risk of the situation spiralling out of control is rising. Any Iranian attack would have devastating consequences for the region.”
Britain and France are calling for a diplomatic solution to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and restore peace along the Israeli-Lebanese border, the British foreign ministry said.
“It’s never too late for peace. We must at all costs avoid a regional war, which would have terrible consequences,” French foreign minister Sejourne said in a statement.
The visit by the duo marks the first UK-France joint visit to Israel in more than 10 years.


Putin thanks UAE’s president for Ukraine mediation efforts

Updated 30 January 2026
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Putin thanks UAE’s president for Ukraine mediation efforts

  • Russian president meets Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, in Moscow for talks spanning international affairs and bilateral trade
  • Another round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is due to take place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday

LONDON: Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his counterpart from the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, on Thursday for his mediation efforts on the war in Ukraine.

As Russian and Ukrainian negotiators prepare for another round of peace talks, due to take place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the Emirati president met the Russian leader at the Kremlin during an official visit to Moscow.

Putin “expressed his appreciation to the UAE for hosting the trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States,” the Emirates News Agency reported.

Sheikh Mohammed said he was proud to have helped mediate prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, and the UAE was ready to “assist all constructive efforts” regarding important humanitarian matters.

The leaders also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East. Regarding the conflict between Israel and Palestine, they said there was an “urgent need to intensify efforts to achieve a clear path towards a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.”

Other topics included ways in which bilateral cooperation might be strengthened in areas such as trade, investment, technology, space and energy.

Russia and the UAE have moved to deepen ties in recent years. They signed two key trade and economic partnership agreements last summer.