Israel's allies voice less understanding & more concern

The last time Israel and Iran traded attacks, Israel received strong support from many allies. Britain and the US provided backup in the form of fighter jets, refuelling planes and air defence systems.

Neighbouring Jordan confirmed it had shot down Iranian missiles and drones. Some West Asian states allowed Israel to transit their airspace.This time around, there was less understanding and more concern. Some European allies worried Israel was ratcheting up a conflict with Iran after eight months of simmering tensions but no overt warfare. "Escalation serves no one in the region," PM Keir Starmer of Britain said, while EU's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, called the situation "dangerous".

Those remarks followed a growing chorus of European condemnation of Israel over the past few months for escalating the war in Gaza.

Some of the sharpest condemnation came from countries in the region. Egypt, which has a longstanding peace treaty with Israel, called the strikes "a direct threat to regional and international peace and security".Still, a number of key allies, including the US, stood behind Israel and expressed mounting frustration with Iran's advancing nuclear programme. And should Iran launch a powerful counterattack against Israel, allies could still come to the country's defence militarily.