United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes the attacks in Beirut and Tehran this week mark a “dangerous escalation” of the conflict in the Middle East, his spokesman said Wednesday.
“The Secretary-General believes that the attacks we have seen in southern Beirut and Tehran constitute a dangerous escalation at a time when all efforts should be aimed at a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all Israeli hostages, a massive increase in humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, and a return to calm along the Blue Line,” said the UN secretary-general’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.
Dujarric added, “It is increasingly clear that restraint alone is not enough at this particularly sensitive time. The Secretary-General urges all parties to make every effort towards regional de-escalation for the sake of long-term peace and stability for all.”
On the other hand, the United States will take every possible step to protect its personnel and interests in the Middle East, following recent attacks in the region, State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said on Wednesday.
“We continue to urge all parties to exercise restraint to avoid escalation into a broader regional conflict. And as Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Singapore, the United States was not involved in the attack in Tehran. But the United States will, of course, take every possible step to protect our personnel, our interests in the region and beyond, if necessary,” Patel said.
Patel made the comments at a routine press conference following attacks in Beirut and Tehran this week, which the UN said marked a “dangerous escalation” in the Middle East conflict. (ns/ab)
