Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Former Japanese Prime Minister HATOYAMA Yukio has sharply criticized Israel’s aggressive military unprovoked attacks against Iran, raising alarms over the potential for the conflict to ignite a broader crisis across the Middle East. 

“I firmly oppose Israel’s air strikes, which exceed self-defense,” Hatoyama stated, reflecting the concerns of many about the escalating conflict.

On X on Monday, Hatoyama remarked: “Israel bombed several areas of Iran, including nuclear facilities, resulting in the deaths of the Revolutionary Guard and military leaders. I am concerned that the conflict will escalate throughout the Middle East.”

人間とはかくも愚かなものなのか。人間が人間を殺し合う。中東で最も恐れていたことが起きた。イスラエルがイランの核関連施設など各地を空爆し、革命防衛隊や軍のトップが殺害された。イランが報復するばかりでなく、戦線が中東全域に広がることを恐れる。自衛を超えたイスラエルの空爆を非難する。

— 鳩山友紀夫（由紀夫）Yukio Hatoyama (@hatoyamayukio) June 14, 2025

In a dramatic retaliation following the Israeli attacks, Iran unleashed a powerful barrage of missiles and drones, targeting cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa, leaving destruction in their wake, and claiming the lives of several Israelis.

“The greatest fear in the Middle East—an escalation of conflict—has now become a reality,” Former Prime Minister Hatoyama, known for his outspoken comments, stated. 

Israel’s airstrikes have not only focused on key figures within Iran’s Revolutionary Guards but have also wreaked havoc on the lives of civilians. The Iranian Ministry of Health reported that since Israel unleashed its airstrikes on June 13, the death toll has tragically surged to 224 amidst the turmoil.