FALCON POWERS – The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, emphasized during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council that the Middle East is on the verge of entering into a wide-ranging conflict, and immediate measures must be taken to de-escalate the situation. He stated, “The Middle East is on the edge of the abyss. People in the region face a real threat of a devastating and wide-ranging conflict,” emphasizing the urgent need to reduce tensions and escalation.
Regarding the Security Council meeting on the Iranian attack on Israel, Guterres stated, “It is time to step back from the brink. It is necessary to avoid any action that could lead to a major military confrontation on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”
The Secretary-General of the international organization stressed that “civilians are already bearing the brunt and paying the highest price [for military action]. We have a shared responsibility to actively engage all stakeholders in preventing further escalation.”
Guterres pointed out that regional and global peace and security are being destroyed every hour. He said, “Neither the region nor the world can afford new wars.”
He added, “I remind all member states that the United Nations Charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Furthermore, the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected in all circumstances, in accordance with international law. As I said in my condemnation of the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1st.”
The United Nations Security Council meeting is being held at the request of Tel Aviv at 16:00 (23:00 Moscow time) on Sunday to discuss the implications of the Iranian attack on Israel.
Iran launched a direct and wide-ranging attack on Israel yesterday evening, using dozens of drones and ballistic missiles in response to Israel’s targeting of the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, earlier this month.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced in a televised statement on Saturday that “in response to the crimes of the Zionist entity and its attack on the consulate affiliated with the Iranian embassy in Damascus, the air force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard targeted specific targets in the territory of the Zionist entity with dozens of drones and missiles.”
Israeli media reported early Sunday morning that the country’s air defense systems intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles and drones over wide areas in various parts of Israel.
