Europe knew this may be coming. For weeks, leaders and policy makers watched the US military build-up in the Middle East. They heard the threats of the Trump administration to Tehran: Give up all nuclear aspirations - or else!
But since the US-Israeli attack started on Iran three days ago, this continent has looked at best uncoordinated, if not fractured and decidedly without leverage, caught up in the maelstrom of events.
Each European country is understandably angsting about its citizens in the region - whether and how they may need to evacuate what would be tens of thousands of people in total.
European governments worry too about the impact the unfolding Middle East crisis may have on consumers back home. On energy and food prices, for example. European gas prices have soared to an extent not seen since the launch of Russia's fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Politically, Europe is clearly struggling to find a united voice on the fast-paced dizzying developments in the Middle East.
