UN Security Council meeting
On Monday, during a UN Security Council meeting, Russia and China accused the United States of exacerbating the Middle East by launching strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria.
The US military targeted dozens of targets in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for a January 28 drone attack on a Jordan base, raising concerns that the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza may escalate into a regional conflict.
Vasily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador, stated, “It’s clear that American airstrikes are specifically, deliberately aimed to stoke the conflict”.
Jun Zhang, China’s envoy, also stated, “The US actions will certainly exacerbate the vicious cycle of tit-for-tat violence in the Middle East”.
Anger over Israel’s destructive campaign in Gaza, which began with an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, has spread throughout the Middle East, inciting conflict between Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
A representative of the United Nations called on all parties to step back from the brink and to consider the unbearable human and economic cost of a potential regional conflict.
“I appeal to the Council to continue to actively engage all concerned parties to prevent further escalation and the worsening of tensions that undermine regional peace and security”, noted Rosemary DiCarlo, under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs.
The American strikes have sparked criticism from the Iraqi and Syrian governments, as well as Iran, which denies any involvement in last month’s drone attack.
Amir Saeid Iravani, the Iranian ambassador, said, “Any attempt to attribute these actions to Iran or its armed forces is misleading, baseless, and unacceptable”.
He went on to say that if Iran suffers any threat, attack, or aggression affecting its security, it would not hesitate to exercise its inherent rights… to respond firmly.
The White House announced Sunday that it intends to take additional retaliatory steps.
“Let me be clear, the United States does not desire more conflict in a region when we are actively working to contain and de-escalate the conflict in Gaza”, stated Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood to the United Nations.
“We are not seeking a direct conflict with Iran, but we will continue to defend our personnel against unacceptable attacks”, Wood continued.
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