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Little Warning of Attack on I 04/19 06:34
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that
it received "last minute" information from Israel about a drone action in Iran,
Italy's foreign minister said.
CAPRI, Italy (AP) -- The United States told the Group of Seven foreign
ministers on Friday that it received "last minute" information from Israel
about a drone action in Iran, Italy's foreign minister said.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who chaired the meeting of
ministers of industrialized countries, said the United States provided the
information at a Friday morning session that was changed at the last minute to
address the suspected attack.
Tajani said the U.S. informed the G7 ministers that it had been "informed at
the last minute" by Israel about the drones. "But there was no sharing of the
attack by the U.S. It was a mere information."
Early Friday, Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site
near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, part of an apparent
Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile
assault on the country last weekend.
In a communique following the three-day meeting, the ministers urged the
parties "to prevent further escalation."
The statement pledged support for Israel's security and condemned "in the
strongest terms" what the foreign ministers described as Iran's "unprecedented
attack against Israel of April 13-14, which Israel defeated with the help of
its partners," as well as the seizure of the Portuguese-flagged vessel MSC
Aries in the Strait of Hormuz.
"We stand ready to adopt further sanctions or take other measures, now and
in response to further destabilizing initiatives," the document read.
The group also warned Iran against transferring ballistic missiles and
related technology to Russia.
On the war in Gaza, the group called on Hamas to release hostages and
reminded Israel to respect international and humanitarian law.
It added that G7 countries remained opposed to "a full scale military
operation in Rafah that would have catastrophic consequences on the civilian
population," and called for increasing the flow of aid into Gaza.
"The G7 worked and will work for a de-escalation," Tajani said in a closing
press conference. He said that would include a de-escalation of tensions,
followed by a cease-fire, liberation of hostages and aid to the Palestinian
people.
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