France, March 2 -- Across the African continent, reactions have been pouring in since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday evening and the subsequent retaliation which saw Iran attack several countries across the Middle East.

Most African countries have called for de-escalation and respect for international law, while others support Tehran's right to respond.

The African Union (AU) said in a statement that the military strikes and Iran's subsequent response, "represent a perilous and deeply troubling escalation - one that marks a serious intensification of hostilities in the Middle East and threatens to engulf the entire region in an uncontrollable cycle of violence, suffering, and pain."

The bloc urge...