European Union leaders decided on Wednesday to step up sanctions against Iran after Tehran¡¯s missile and drone attack on Israel left world powers scrambling to prevent a wider conflict in the Middle East.

The summit in Brussels is the first meeting of the EU¡¯s 27 national leaders since Saturday¡¯s attack, more than six months into the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel has signaled that it will retaliate, but has not said how. EU leaders condemned the Iranian attack, reaffirmed their commitment to Israel¡¯s security and called on all sides to prevent more tensions, including in Lebanon.