UAE expresses deep concern over escalating Middle East conflict

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed deep concern over the continued escalation of violence in the Middle East and its repercussions on regional security and stability.

In a statement issued late Wednesday, the UAE Foreign Ministry stressed the importance of exercising utmost self-restraint and judgment to mitigate risks and prevent the expansion of the conflict.

The statement read, “The UAE believes that enhancing dialogue, adhering to international law, and respecting the sovereignty of countries are essential foundations for resolving the current crises. In this regard, the UAE emphasizes the necessity of resolving disputes through diplomatic means, rather than confrontation and escalation.”

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday urged “all parties” in the Middle East to stop “escalatory actions” and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. Speaking in the Mongolian capital, Blinken warned the Middle East was on a path “toward more conflict, more violence, more suffering, more insecurity, and it is crucial that we break this cycle.”

He emphasized that achieving peace requires all parties to engage in dialogue and cease actions that could further escalate tensions.

Killing of Ismail Haniyeh

Hamas accused Israel of killing its top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in an airstrike in Iran on Wednesday. Haniyeh was in Tehran for the inauguration ceremony of new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Hamas called his death “a dangerous event” that would have repercussions across the Middle East.

Israeli officials have not commented on the Tehran attack and have not taken responsibility for it.

New hurdles to ceasefire prospects

Haniyeh's killing threatens to escalate tensions across the Middle East. The assassination occurred just hours after Israel announced it had killed a top commander of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in an airstrike in Beirut.

Iran's president condemned Haniyeh's killing as a "cowardly action" and pledged to defend Iran’s territorial integrity. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “harsh punishment” for the assassination.

Haniyeh's death is likely to complicate ongoing ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. He was the principal point of contact for Hamas in negotiations brokered by Egypt and Qatar, making his loss a significant setback for diplomatic efforts.