The United Nations Security Council countries urged on Wednesday for increased diplomatic efforts to prevent a broader Middle East conflict in response to the assassinations of two militant leaders.
The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran, early on Wednesday has stoked fears of retaliation against Israel and heightened tensions in the Gaza conflict, which some fear could escalate into a larger war in the Middle East.
Less than 24 hours before the assassination, an Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, killed Hezbollah’s most senior military commander in response to a deadly rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
On Wednesday, Japan’s deputy U.N. representative, Shino Mitsuko, expressed concern that the region is on the brink of an all-out war and called for international action to avert such a conflict.
The US, the UK, and France all cited Iranian support for destabilizing actors in the region, while Iran’s U.N. ambassador referred to the incident as an act of terrorism. Russia, China, Algeria, and other nations condemned the assassination of Haniyeh.
Jonathan Miller, Israel’s deputy representative to the UN, urged the Security Council to condemn Iran for its support of regional terrorism and to impose additional sanctions on Tehran.
Miller urged the world to lend its support to Israel, stating, “We will defend ourselves and respond with great force against those who harm us.”
