The UN chief warns: the war is getting out of control

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that the conflict in the Middle East was getting out of control and could develop into an even bigger war. He also called on the US and Israel to end the armed conflict, and on Iran to stop attacks on other countries.

“My message to the US and Israel is that it is high time to end the war – people are suffering more and more, the number of civilian casualties is rising and the impact on the global economy is more and more devastating,” Guterres told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

– My message to Iran: stop attacking your neighbors – he added.

The UN Secretary General emphasized that it was time to reach for diplomatic solutions instead of fueling tensions.

– The conflict has exceeded limits that even leaders considered impossible (…) The world is facing a larger-scale war, a growing wave of human suffering and a deepening global economic crisis. This has gone too far, he noted.

Guterres added that Hezbollah must stop attacking Israel and the latter must stop its military operation in Lebanon, which primarily attacks civilians. – Lebanon must not become another Gaza Strip – said the UN chief.

He also announced the appointment of former French diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Guterres emphasized that Arnault has over 30 years of experience in diplomacy, particularly in peacekeeping, conflict resolution and mediation.

Since February 28, the United States and Israel have been conducting airstrikes against Iran, which in response attacks Israel and the Persian Gulf countries, attacking American bases and civilian facilities located there. The airstrikes also affected mining infrastructure on both sides, and Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for oil and gas exports. This led to an increase in global raw material prices.

At the same time, Israel is fighting the pro-Iranian Hezbollah in Lebanon. Over a thousand people died in the conflict, and Lebanon, which has been plagued by numerous crises for years, is sinking into collapse. (PAP)

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