London, Thanasis Gavos

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron described Iran’s attack on Israel as a very important development but also a “complete failure”, also calling on Israel to think calmly before reacting.

In a series of morning interviews on British television channels and radio stations, Lord Cameron said that Tehran had suffered a “double defeat”, as on the one hand it failed in its military objective and on the other hand it “revealed itself as the malign influence” in the region.

As for Israel’s response, Lord Cameron said that “if you are in Israel this morning you are quite right to think that we have every right to respond to this and they do – but we urge them not to escalate”.

He also said he was calling on Israel to think “with the head and not the heart” as it weighs its response. “Our advice is not to retaliate,” he added. Otherwise he warned of the risk of “miscalculation”.

Lord Cameron was asked about Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s judgment during the months-long conflict and said that he “has the right judgment on many things”, but added that “there are also times when we have deeply disagreed”. On this he referred at length to the obstacles that existed in terms of the provision of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

Asked about Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which Tehran blamed for yesterday’s attack, the British Foreign Secretary commented that for Israelis it is the Iranian Revolutionary Guards who “arrange Hamas’ attacks” and that its direct attack Saturday against Israel is “of a different order”.

He praised the bravery of British fighter jet pilots who shot down Iranian drones on Saturday night as they “saved lives”. Regarding the possibility of further British military involvement in the direct Israel-Iran conflict, he said that such moves are under constant evaluation, although he commented that Iran has said it will not carry out further attacks.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that on Monday afternoon Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will make an emergency briefing to the House of Commons on the developments and the British role.