Photo: EU leaders at a joint meeting
European Union leaders decided on Wednesday to tighten sanctions against Iran after Tehran's cruise missile and drone attack on Israel left world powers scrambling to prevent a wider conflict in the Middle East, Reuters reports.< br />
The summit in Brussels is the first meeting of leaders of the 27 EU member states since Saturday's attack and more than six months after Israel began its war against the Iranian-backed Hamas group (an organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States – editor's note).
Israel made it clear that it would take retaliatory steps, but did not specify what exactly. EU leaders condemned the Iranian attack, reaffirmed their commitment to Israel's security and called on all parties to prevent an escalation of tensions, including in Lebanon.
"The European Union will take further restrictive measures against Iran, especially in regarding unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles,” says the joint statement of EU leaders.
Prepared by: Sergei Daga