BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — At least three Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries have expressed concern at the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East after the United States (US) and Israel launched military attacks on Iran.

The United States and Israel on Saturday carried out a series of strikes citing “threats” from Iran, which responded with volleys of missiles aimed at Gulf states that host US bases, and at Israel.

According to Iranian state media, citing the Red Crescent, hundreds of people have been killed and injured as the exchanges of fire continue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as “unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate”, while President Donald Trump is urging Iranians to rise up and take over the country.

In addition, international news media reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in a major coordinated attack by US and Israeli forces.

Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana have issued statements urging renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent further deterioration and to uphold the rule of law.

Trinidad and Tobago, which had earlier issued a statement urging its nationals in the Middle East to take all precautions had subsequently issued a second statement in which it sought to withdraw after it was posted on the official website of the Ministry of Caricom and Foreign Affairs.

In that statement, the Kamla Persad-Bissessar Government said it “supports the actions of the United States and Israel and its allies aimed at preventing oppressive regimes from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities that would jeopardise international peace and security”.

“The proliferation of such weapons is a grave threat, not only to regional stability in the Middle East, but also to the global community on a whole.”

Port of Spain said it also “stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the Gulf region, including those in the Middle East…who have come under attack and condemn in the strongest possible terms any act of aggression that threatens their sovereignty, security and stability”.

For its part, the Guyana Government said it “reiterates the need for the sustained pursuit of lasting peace and stability for the Middle East”.

“The unprovoked attack by Iran on the Kingdom of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait is unjustified and in breach of international law. The Government of Guyana condemns the attacks on these sovereign states and call upon all parties to de-escalate in the interest of peace and stability in the region,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a brief statement.

“Guyana expresses full solidarity with the Government and People of the Kingdom of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, and condemns all actions by Iran in attacking these countries,” it added.

Meanwhile, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne said his Government is “deeply concerned by the rapid and dangerous escalation of hostilities in the Middle East” and that it also “condemns attacks against the territorial integrity of states that are not direct parties to a conflict”.

He said such actions constitute a serious breach of international law and heighten the risk of widening instability across an already fragile region.

“We echo the sentiment expressed by members of the international community that the Iranian leadership must understand that it has no other option but to engage in good-faith negotiations to address serious issues of regional security. This course of action is essential to reduce tensions and restore stability.

“We reaffirm our unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. Respect for the principles of the Charter of the United Nations must remain the foundation of international peace and security.”

Browne said that “at this critical juncture, we urge maximum restraint by all actors and call for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities”.

“The expansion of military confrontation across borders serves no enduring interest and places civilian populations at grave risk.

“Antigua and Barbuda joins the call of the international community, including the United Nations secretary-general, for renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent further deterioration and to uphold the rule of law,” he said. “Antigua and Barbuda stands in solidarity with the peoples affected and expresses its hope that dialogue and diplomacy, not force, will ultimately prevail.”

In the meantime, Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is urging nationals to avoid traveling to the Middle East.

In an advisory, it said that the Andrew Holness Government is closely monitoring military hostilities in the Middle East and urged Jamaicans in the region to exercise vigilance and to shelter in place as conditions may require.