Global leaders have issued urgent appeals for restraint following Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone strikes on Israel, amid fears of a potential wider conflict in the region.
Iran launched the attack in retaliation for an airstrike, widely attributed to Israel, which destroyed Tehran’s consular building in the Syrian capital earlier this month.
The strikes have significantly heightened tensions in the Middle East, coming amidst a deadly conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, which has been ongoing for the past six months.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the critical need for peace, stating, “Neither the region nor the world can afford more war.” Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, he warned, “The Middle East is on the brink. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.”
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with hopes for a swift resolution to prevent further escalation of hostilities in the region.
