UK and French Foreign Ministers Warn of Rising Risk of Full-Scale War in Middle East

David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, and St?phane S?journ?, the French Foreign Minister, on the 17th (local time) warned that the risk of full-scale war in the Middle East is increasing and urged all parties to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions.

French Foreign Minister St?phane S?journ? (left) and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

In a joint op-ed published in the Sunday edition of the UK daily The Observer, the two ministers stated, "Clashes between Israel and the Lebanese (armed faction) Hezbollah are intensifying," adding, "Iran's additional threats to escalate tensions mean the risk of a full-scale regional war is growing." They further warned, "What we are witnessing is a vicious cycle of destructive violence," and cautioned, "A single miscalculation could escalate the situation into a deeper and more intractable conflict."

The two ministers emphasized that it is never too late to achieve peace and that a full-scale conflict across the Middle East benefits no one. They said, "All parties need to show restraint and invest in diplomacy," and warned, "Any Iranian attack would have destructive consequences, especially undermining ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip." They added, "Only a political solution can bring the peace we so desperately need," explaining, "This is why we urge engagement in US-led talks to diplomatically resolve tensions not only in the Gaza ceasefire but also among Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon."

Earlier, the two ministers jointly visited Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip to seek solutions to ease tensions in the Middle East. Their actions are analyzed as efforts to join the international community, including the US, in attempts to reduce tensions amid the escalating risk of full-scale war in the region.

Recently, tensions in the Middle East have been rising continuously beyond the Israel-Palestine conflict. On the 31st of last month, Ismail Haniyeh, the top political leader of the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, the capital of Iran. In response, Iran and Hamas have identified Israel as the perpetrator and vowed retaliation. Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has also announced retaliation against Israel following the death of one of its top commanders in an airstrike.