Arab governments emphasized this week that that the root issue underlying the violence — the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict — must be resolved.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei congratulated Iranians for what he described as a victory over Israel and the United States, in defiant remarks published on state media that appeared to be his first public statement since U.S. war planes bombed three of the country’s nuclear facilities.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday his country had delivered a “slap to America’s face” with its strike on an American base in Qatar, and warned against any further U.S. attacks in his first public comments since a ceasefire was declared with Israel after 12 days of war.