BRUSSELS: European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday called on all sides to avoid further escalation in the Middle East following US strikes on Iran-linked groups in Iraq and Syria. The EU foreign policy chief expressed these remarks at a meeting on EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Josep Borrell said that everybody should make effort to avoid that the situation becomes explosive in the region. The US launched air strikes against Iranian backed groups and militias in Syria and Iraq on Friday, with US President Joe Biden promising more to come in retaliation for a drone strike on US force near Syrian border.
EU Top Official Urges no Regional Escalation Following US Strikes
However, Borrell did not address the US attacks directly, but repeated a warning that the region “is a boiler that can explode. The EU top diplomat pointed to the war in the Gaza Strip, violence along the Lebanese border, bombings in Syria in Iraq and strikes on shipping in the Red Sea. “That’s why we call everyone to try to avert an escalation,” Borrell added.
The European Union is aiming to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea later this month to help protect international ships from attacks. However, Borrell said the EU mission would be “defensive” and not conduct any strikes on land against the rebels.
Meanwhile, Iraq also strongly condemned the US attacks against groups on its territory terming it as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. General Yehia Rasool, a spokesperson for PM, in a statement warned of disastrous consequences of such strikes for the country.
He further said Friday’s attacks in western Iraq near the Syrian border are violation of his country’s sovereignty and will bring terrible consequences for the stability of the region.
