President Ruto condemns Iran's attack on Israel, urges restraint

In a statement on Sunday, the Head of State stated that the attack, which Kenya considers a serious threat to international peace and security, is a clear violation of the United Nations Charter.

President Ruto urged Israel to exercise extreme caution in responding to the act of aggression in order to avoid escalating the worrying situation. 

"Kenya urges Israel to show utmost restraint taking into account the urgent need for all parties to walk away from the brink beyond which recovery will be enormously difficult," President Ruto said. 

Kenya has joined a list of countries that have expressed concern after Iran launched an unprecedented wave of missiles and attack drones against its arch rival Israel overnight, at a time when the Gaza conflict has heightened Middle Eastern tensions.

Iran launched the attack, its first ever to directly target Israeli territory, in retaliation for a deadly air strike widely blamed on Israel that destroyed its consular building in Syria's capital early this month.

Israel and its allies intercepted the vast majority of the incoming projectiles, the Israeli army said, reporting 12 people injured and no deaths, but the attack sharply heightened fears of an Israeli counterstrike.

G7 leaders condemned Iran's unprecedented attack and called for "restraint" on all sides, European Council President Charles Michel wrote on X following a video conference and ahead of a planned 2000 GMT meeting of the UN Security Council.

"We will continue all our efforts to work towards de-escalation. Ending the crisis in Gaza as soon as possible, notably through an immediate ceasefire, will make a difference."

Israel's top ally the United States also urged caution and calm.

"We don't want to see this escalate," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told NBC. "We're not looking for a wider war with Iran."

President Joe Biden reaffirmed "ironclad" US support for Israel, but also appeared to guide its ally away from a military response against their common adversary Iran.

News outlet Axios reported that Biden had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he should "take the win" and that Washington would oppose an Israeli counterattack.