UN boss warns Middle East on brink of regional war
The UN Secretary-General warned on April 18 that a “full-scale regional conflict” due to the tensions between Iran and Israel as well as the situation in Gaza is looking ever so likely, French news outlet RTL reported.
Israel struck the first blow, bombing the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1 and killing several Iranian military officials. Tehran responded nearly two weeks later as they launched just over 300 missiles and drones in what was the first ever direct attack on Israel from the country.
Few damages were recorded in Israel as its Air Force, alongside Western and regional allies, intercepted the strikes.
On April 18, a UN Security Council meeting specifically on the Middle East situation was held and was attended by various diplomats including Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
During the talks, UN chief Antonio Guterres affirmed that: “The Middle East is on a precipice. Recent days have seen a perilous escalation, in words and deeds,”
Guterres was quick to condemn the Iranian embassy attack and warned that “any miscalculation could lead to broader conflict in an already volatile region”.
During the Security Council meeting he reiterated his pleas: “It is high time to end the bloody cycle of retaliation.”
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Mr Guterres also discussed the highly troubling situation in Gaza and the West Bank and again stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire as well as the release of all hostages, around 130 of whom are still languishing in the besieged enclave, taken by Hamas on October 7.
“In Gaza, six and a half months of Israeli military operations have created a humanitarian hellscape.” He noted whilst also calling on Israel to allow more aid into the territory.
As well as the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, attacks in the occupied West Bank since October have been unprecedented.
Highlighting the situation there, he noted: “I call on Israel, as the occupying power, to protect the Palestinian population of the occupied West Bank against attacks, violence and intimidation.”
On the same day, the United States vetoed a Security Council draft resolution that recommended the recognition of a Palestinian state to the UN General Assembly, arguing that such a recognition should be settled between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and not the world body.
Meanwhile, 12 members voted yes, and the United Kingdom as well as Switzerland abstained.
Since October, over 34,000 have been killed in Gaza and 468 in the West Bank by the Israeli military.
RTL
