The Palestinian armed group, Hamas, has appealed to the Islamic Republic of Iran to discontinue its repeated attacks on neighbouring countries.

In a statement on Saturday, the armed group, however, affirmed Tehran’s unquestionable right to defend itself against Israel and the United States in line with international norms and laws.

“While affirming the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to this aggression by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws, the movement calls on the brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighbouring countries,” it said.

The Palestinian group, which engaged Israel in a devastating war in Gaza for more than two years, expressed deep concern over the ongoing war, urging the international community to intervene.

“We are following with deep concern the ongoing war in the region. All states and international organisations to work towards halting [the war] immediately,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Iranian authorities said their own retaliatory strikes target “American installations” on Gulf soil rather than the neighbours themselves. However, many attacks had hit civilian infrastructure.

The United Arab Emirates confirmed six people were killed after Iran fired multiple ballistic missiles against the country.

The country, in a statement by its defence ministry on Saturday, added several people from different countries, including Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Uganda and others, were injured in the attacks amid escalating tension in the region.

Several casualties had also been recorded in Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.