UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that spiraling tensions over the conflict in Gaza and Iran's attack on Israel could devolve into a "full-scale regional conflict."
Guterres’ warning came as he spoke to a high-level UN Security Council meeting, with several foreign ministers present, including from Jordan and Iran. "The Middle East is on a precipice. Recent days have seen a perilous escalation – in words and deeds," he said.
The UN Chief also called on all parties to exercise "maximum restraint."
"One miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable --- a full-scale regional conflict that would be devastating for all involved," he said.
Iran unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel over the weekend, after an attack on its consulate in Damascus.
Israeli officials have not said when or where they would retaliate, but the country's military chief has vowed a response.
Guterres condemned both the consulate attack and the flurry of drones, saying that the latter constituted a "serious escalation."
"It is high time to end the bloody cycle of retaliation," he said. "It is high time to stop."
"The international community must work together to prevent any actions that could push the entire Middle East over the edge, with a devastating impact on civilians. Let me be clear: the risks are spiraling on many fronts," Guterres warned.
Source: AFP