UN: ‘Israel’s’ offensive against Iran as a blatant breach of international law
The Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations has condemned Israel's recent actions against Iran, labeling them as a clear breach of the UN Charter, core principles of international law, and the nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In a statement released on Wednesday, an 18-member United Nations group strongly denounced what it described as Israel’s “deliberate and egregious” act of aggression against Iran on October 26. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Thursday, the incident led to the death of four members of the Iranian Armed Forces and one civilian.
In a significant violation of national sovereignty, Israeli fighter jets utilized US-controlled airspace over Iraq to launch strikes on military facilities located in Iran’s Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces.
The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces has issued a statement confirming that Israel operated within U.S.-controlled airspace in Iraq.
The General Staff reported that a substantial portion of the missiles was successfully intercepted, and Israeli fighter jets were prevented from penetrating Iranian airspace.
Iran has declared its firm intention to retaliate against what it describes as an act of aggression, asserting it will steadfastly uphold its rights in response to the incident.
A United Nations panel has stated that the recent assault constituted a breach of the UN Charter, which expressly forbids the threat or application of force against the territorial sovereignty of nations.
The statement voiced grave concerns regarding ongoing actions by the Israeli government, suggesting they are attempting to escalate tensions and potentially provoke a wider conflict in the West Asia region.
The statement indicated that the ongoing serious breaches of international law, along with the provocations and aggressive actions by the Israeli regime towards regional countries, reflect an intent to increase tensions.
It underscored the pressing necessity to hold the Israeli authorities responsible for their alleged offenses against the Palestinian population and other Arab nations within the occupied territories and throughout the region.
The countries affiliated with the group have collectively conveyed their unwavering support for the Iranian populace and administration, extending their heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the loss of life resulting from the Israeli assault.
The Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations was formed in July 2021 in New York. Comprising an initial cohort of 16 UN member states, including Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Nicaragua, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Syria, and Venezuela, the alliance also includes Palestine as a UN observer state.
In 2022, Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Mali became members of the group, while Burundi, Ethiopia, Namibia, South Africa, and Vietnam were granted observer status.
The primary objective of the coalition is to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter, functioning as a platform to advocate for the supremacy of law over the use of force.
