Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 14 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday urged the international community to speak out to end 'unlawful aggression' of Israel against Iran.

Taking to X, Pinarayi Vijayan criticised Israel, calling its military operations against Iran and Gaza a 'brazen and belligerent onslaught across West Asia.'

'The entire international community must speak out to end the reckless and unlawful aggression of Israel against Iran. Backed by the complicit support of the imperialist power bloc led by the United States, Israel continues its brazen and belligerent onslaught across West Asia,' Vijayan wrote on X.

https://x.com/pinarayivijayan/status/1933908799385211312

Vijayan said that no 'dignified person' can remain silent over Israel's 'atrocities' in the region, especially ongoing 'genocide' in Gaza and suggested that peace and normalcy can only be restored by holding this 'rogue state (Israel) accountable.

'No peace-loving, dignified person can remain silent in the face of such atrocities, especially the ongoing genocide in #Gaza. The time has come to stand up, speak out, and hold this rogue state accountable. Only then can we hope to restore peace and normalcy in the region,' Vijayan said.

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of a large-scale military campaign, Operation Rising Lion, aimed at dismantling what he described as an existential threat posed by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Netanyahu said Israel had struck multiple high-value Iranian targets in a decisive first strike.'Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival,' he said, adding that the mission would continue 'for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.'

In retaliation, Iran fired around 150 ballistic missiles at Israel in two barrages, The Times of Israel stated.

Some 80 people were reported hurt in the strikes, including three people who were critically injured and later succumbed to their wounds. (ANI)