Capitals (Union, Agencies)
International warnings continued about the dangers of the conflict expanding in the Middle East and the outbreak of a regional war, amid calls for reduced escalation and calm. This came as the Pentagon announced the strengthening of its defenses in the Middle East. Yesterday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi warned of the seriousness of the developments taking place in the region and their impact on the expansion of the conflict there, stressing that “the continuation of this turmoil will lead to dire consequences in the region and perhaps in the world.”
In his speech during the celebration of the graduation of a new batch from the Police Academy, Sisi stressed his country’s keenness for its policy to be balanced in light of this “dangerous turmoil.”
He added, “The region and the world are going through very difficult circumstances,” pointing out that “Egypt practices a policy characterized by balance, moderation, and objectivity.” China also called on all parties, especially Israel, to reduce escalation to prevent the expansion of the conflict in the region.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday, “Beijing opposes actions that violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, and lead to escalation of conflict and regional tension.”
She noted that China is closely monitoring events and is concerned about escalating regional tensions. She added: “We call on all parties, especially Israel, to prevent the conflict from escalating out of control, by taking the necessary measures to reduce the escalation.” She stressed that “implementing UN Security Council resolutions, stopping attacks in Gaza as soon as possible, and ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East represent an urgent priority.” In turn, Pope Francis of the Vatican yesterday warned of the dangers of war in the Middle East region, calling for peace and security there. Pope Francis said while celebrating a mass attended by thousands in the Belgian capital, Brussels, as part of his European tour, that he “prays for the regions affected by wars,” expressing at the same time his support for immigrants to Europe.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the army to strengthen its presence in the Middle East with “defensive” air support capabilities, and to place other forces on high alert, according to a statement by the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon. A Pentagon spokesman said in a statement yesterday, “Austin raised the readiness of more American forces to deploy, which enhances our readiness to respond to various emergency situations.”
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