Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are working together in Iran.Image: keystone
On Saturday morning, Israel and the USA attacked Iran. Iran responds with a counterattack. These are the first reactions.
Feb 28, 2026, 10:43February 28, 2026, 10:45
Switzerland
“Switzerland is deeply concerned about today’s attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran,” writes the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) on X. It calls for “full compliance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and international humanitarian law.”
#Iran | The #Switzerland is deeply concerned about today’s attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel.
Thedemands full compliance with international law, including the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law. We call…
— EDA – DFAE (@EDA_DFAE) February 28, 2026
Switzerland has already slightly reduced the number of staff working in the embassy in Iran in recent days. However, the representation remains in operation.
The Swiss embassy staff has been reduced from 14 to 10 people in the last few days, the FDFA announced on Saturday morning at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The federal government advises against traveling to Israel
After the escalation in the Middle East on Saturday night, the federal government advises against traveling to Israel. The same advice has been in place for Iran for some time.
After the Israeli government declared a state of emergency and closed the airspace, the FDFA responded on Saturday with a stricter travel warning.
It is said that the development of the situation is uncertain. Swiss citizens staying in Israel are advised by the FDFA that they should use commercial means of transport if they wish to leave the country. The decision to leave the country is voluntary, at your own risk and at your own expense.
Lebanon
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said he will not accept anyone “drawing the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity” – an apparent indirect message to Hezbollah not to intervene in support of Iran.
“In view of the dangerous developments in the region, I once again appeal to all Lebanese to show wisdom and patriotism and to put the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese people above all else,” Salam said in a statement on X.
Germany
The German Federal Government’s crisis team will meet today at 12 p.m., the Foreign Office announced. The ministry says they are monitoring the situation.
USA
US Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of President Donald Trump who has been advocating intervention in Iran for weeks, described the joint US-Israel operation as “necessary and long justified.”
The end of the largest state sponsor of terrorism is upon us. God bless President Trump, our military and our allies in Israel.
Freedom for the long-suffering Iranian people.
This operation is necessary and long justified. https://t.co/iho1GoZkSw
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 28, 2026
“The end of the largest state sponsor of terrorism is imminent,” writes Graham on X.
US Senator criticizes Trump administration
Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the Trump administration in a statement on Saturday for not providing Congress with “real briefings or intelligence” before the attacks on Iran: “Congress has not received any real briefings or intelligence,” Reed said.
(With material from the news agencies SDA and DPA)
USA and Israel attack Iran – this is what Trump says:
Video: Watson/Michael Shepherd