Greek leftist opposition slams US strikes on Iran, warns against Greece’s involvement in ‘imperialistic war’

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Greek leftist opposition parties on Sunday slammed the US aerial strikes on Iran and warned against the country’s involvement in the “imperialistic war.”

Underlining that the involvement of the US in the war that began with Israeli attacks on Iran “is a step towards escalating the imperialist war not only in the Middle East, but throughout the world,” the Greek Communist Party (KKE) said.

“After Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, etc., the US and its allies are bleeding another Middle Eastern country to impose their plans and gain 'points' in the battle for primacy in the global imperialist system,” the party said in a statement.

“Whatever the development at this stage, it is certain that the conflict between the American-NATO bloc and the emerging Eurasian bloc is entering into a new phase with more complex characteristics,” the party added.

Arguing that the conservative government led by Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis has already exposed the country as a target for retaliation by allowing the US presence in numerous Greek bases and deploying Greek troops and ships to war zones, the party warned the government against further involvement with Western plans in the region, particularly US-Israeli designs on Iran.

“Let us demand the immediate disengagement of the country from the war plans of the US-NATO-EU-Israel, the cessation of all cooperation with the murderous state of Israel, the closure of the US-NATO bases in the country, the return of the Greek frigate from the Red Sea, and the (air-defense Patriot) missile battery from Saudi Arabia,” it concluded.

Commenting on the strikes, SYRIZA party president Sokratis Famellos said: “The unilateral decision of the US leadership to attack Iran, abandoning the diplomatic solution, creates very serious problems for both peace and security.”

“We see the results of the murderous choices, in violation of international law, of the Netanyahu government, but also of the absence of strong policy action from international institutions, including the UN and the EU,” he noted.

Similarly, the president of the New Left party, Alexis Haritsis, stressed: ”The US attack on Iran shatters the last illusions that Trump will bring peace.”

Noting that international institutions should do more than speak and condemn, he said: “International Law must fight against the Law of the Strong. And this requires a clash with the uncontrolled and murderous policy of Trump-Netanyahu.”

“The Greek government's choice to identify with the US' aspirations in our region and to side with the war-loving government of the wanted (by ICC) Netanyahu has a direct consequence: it involves us—in terms of servitude—in the war. We are no longer talking about destabilization. We are talking about war,” Haritsis said.

As such, he urged the government to inform the public and political parties to be fully enlightened about the country’s “involvement in military operations.”

“Finally, let’s not forget Gaza,” Haritsis said.

The situation in the region further deteriorated after US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that American forces carried out "very successful" airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, amid growing fears of a broader conflict in the region.

The US targeted Iran’s nuclear sites with six bunker-buster bombs dropped on the Fordo facility with B-2 stealth bombers, along with dozens of submarine-launched cruise missile strikes on the Natanz and Isfahan facilities.

Following the US strikes, Iran called on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to condemn the US aggression and to hold accountable those who violate international law.

Hostilities broke out on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Meanwhile, in Iran, 430 people have been killed and more than 3,500 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.