(14 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

POOL
Berlin - 14 April 2024
++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++
1. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock walking to lectern
2. SOUNDBITE (German) Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister:
"The Iranian regime has led the entire Middle East to the edge of the abyss with its eyes wide open. Last night the Iranian regime fired over 300 missiles, drones and cruise missiles at Israel. We condemn the direct Iranian attack on Israeli territory in the strongest possible terms. Germany stands in full solidarity with Israel."
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (German) Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister:
"Iran, with its aggressive behaviour aimed at destabilising an entire region, is isolated. And Israel's capabilities have shown: Israel is strong, Israel can protect itself. We call on Iran to refrain from further attacks, including via proxies. A regional conflagration would have incalculable consequences."
++BLACK FRAMES++
4. SOUNDBITE (German) Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister:
"I call on all players in the region to act prudently. The spiral of escalation must be broken. Together we must find an end to the violence. I have just chaired the meeting of the Federal Government's crisis management team. We are monitoring the situation in the region very closely and are in close consultation with our various partners. Of course, this also involves the question of what consequences will now follow the Iranian attack."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Israel on Sunday hailed its successful air defences in the face of an unprecedented attack by Iran, saying it and its allies thwarted 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched toward its territory.

Regional tensions remain high, amid fears of further escalation in the event of a possible Israeli counter-strike.

After attending a meeting of the German government’s crisis management team, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms”.

"Iran, with its aggressive behaviour aimed at destabilising an entire region, is isolated,” she said. “We call on Iran to refrain from further attacks, including via proxies. A regional conflagration would have incalculable consequences."

Iran launched the attack in response to a strike widely blamed on Israel on an Iranian consular building in Syria earlier this month which killed two Iranian generals.

Israel said Iran launched 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles early Sunday.

“We are monitoring the situation in the region very closely and are in close consultation with our various partners,” Baerbock added.

“Of course, this also involves the question of what consequences will now follow the Iranian attack."

By Sunday morning, Iran said the attack was over and Israel reopened its air space.

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