Czech Republic summons Iranian ambassador over Israel attack

The Czech Republic summoned the Iranian ambassador following Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Monday.

Iran carried out its first-ever direct attack on Israel, the EU member’s close ally, at the weekend, launching hundreds of drones and missiles which the Israeli military said were nearly all intercepted.

The attack was in response to a strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed seven Revolutionary Guards including two generals and was widely blamed on Israel.

“I have decided today to summon the Iranian ambassador. The Czech diplomacy made it clear to Iran that it has crossed all the lines by attacking Israel,” Lipavsky said on X, formerly Twitter.

“The Iranian regime is endangering the security situation in the region,” he added.

The Czech Republic, an EU and NATO member, is historically one of Israel’s staunchest allies in Europe.

Following Iran’s attack, Lipavsky slammed Tehran’s “long term aggressive behaviour”, while Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that “we stand firmly behind Israel and its right to defend itself”.

Lipavsky said on Monday Iran was acting “with the tacit approval of its Russian friends”.

Prague has also provided substantial humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, which has been battling a Russian invasion since February 2022.