HUMZA Yousaf has called for the international community to demand an “immediate ceasefire” after Iran launched attacks on Israel overnight, saying there will not be a “military solution to the conflict”.
The First Minister spoke after Iran launched 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles early on Sunday, according to Israeli estimates.
The US and UK helped to defend against the attack, with Israel saying 99% of the strikes had been intercepted.
It came after an attack on an Iranian consular building in Syria – which is widely believed to have been carried out by Israel – killed two Iranian generals.
Iran has said it has no further planned action if Israel does not retaliate, however, the Israeli government has said it is ready to respond "offensively".
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Commenting on the situation, the First Minister said there were “extremely worrying developments”.
He went on: “I condemn Iran's actions just as I've condemned all and every regional escalation. And that's why for six months, I've consistently been calling for an immediate ceasefire.
“There is not going to be a military solution to the conflict that we see in the Middle East. There's only going to be a political and diplomatic solution.
“We know that violence begets violence and therefore it's imperative now that the international community demand – not request but demand – that all parties abide by UN security resolutions such as the call for an immediate ceasefire.
“We can't afford to see any further loss of life, because innocent civilians have already paid far too high a price for the actions of a number of countries.
“Therefore we need to see de-escalation as opposed to further escalation in the region.”
Yousaf's comments come after senior SNP MP Ian Blackford called for the UK Government to make a statement on the Iranian attacks.
Elsewhere, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reiterated his support for Israel following the Iranian drone and missile attacks.
The Tory leader (below) also paid tribute “to the professionalism and bravery of the RAF” after confirming that UK jets shot down “a number of” Iranian drones.
He said: “We stand by the security of Israel and the wider region, which is of course important for our security here at home too.
“What we now need is for calm heads to prevail, we will be working with our allies to de-escalate the situation and I am looking forward to meeting with G7 leaders this afternoon.”
Labour has backed the UK Government action taken to defend Israel.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “Let’s be clear, we support the existing Government missions in the Middle East and continue to do so.
“That is important. We also think that it is important that action was taken overnight to prevent the Iranian strikes on Israel because we should be clear that if action hadn’t been taken to prevent those strikes, we would have seen further escalation and further risk of widening conflict.”
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