EU likens Middle East to 'boiler that could explode'
(Baonghean.vn) - According to a senior diplomat of the European Union (EU), the Israel-Hamas war has caused a "domino effect".
Warning of escalating conflict in the Middle East
Politico recently reported that the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, on February 3 (local time), warned against further escalation in the Middle East after US strikes on Iran-linked groups in Syria and Iraq, along with reports that Israel intends to launch a battle against Hamas in the town of Rafah.
“Everyone should try to avoid an explosion,” Borrell said before chairing informal talks between EU foreign ministers in Brussels, adding that the Middle East “is a boiler that could explode.”
The US military on February 2 carried out airstrikes against 85 targets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and pro-Iran groups in Iraq and Syria. President Joe Biden warned that Washington would “continue” to retaliate for last weekend’s drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.
Amid the US strikes that reportedly killed more than 40 people, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement that it represented “another strategic mistake and recklessness by the US, which will only lead to increased tension and instability in the region”.
According to AFP news agency, Russia has proposed convening a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
When asked about the current situation, Mr. Borrell said: “We call on everyone to try to avoid escalation.”
The EU's top diplomat also expressed deep concern about the Israel-Hamas war, saying that around 1 million Palestinians “have been gradually displaced towards the Egyptian border”.
“They claim these are safe zones, but in reality what we see is that the bombing affecting civilians continues and is creating a very dire situation,” he said, stressing that the conflict had created a “domino effect.”
Red Sea remains tense
“As long as the war in Gaza continues, it is difficult to believe that the situation in the Red Sea will improve, because one thing is related to the other,” he added.
After Houthi forces began attacking ships in the Red Sea in what they described as an act of solidarity with Palestinians against Israel, the US-UK Operation Guardian of Prosperity has been conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The EU is aiming to launch a naval mission in the region later this month to help protect international vessels from attack but is seeking to differentiate itself from the UK and US campaign, with Mr Borrell reiterating that the mission would be “defensive”.
The EU mission has yet to receive final approval, but awaits a meeting of foreign ministers on 19 February, and diplomat Borrell said he hoped it could take place by the end of the month.
