Mumtaz Hussain
NEW YORK: The United Nations Secretary-General issued a stark warning over the escalating war in the Middle East, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and urging all parties to return to diplomacy and respect for international law.
“More than three weeks on, this war is out of control,” the Secretary-General said during a press stakeout at UN Headquarters. “The world is staring down the barrel of a wider war, a rising tide of human suffering, and a deeper global economic shock. This has gone too far.”
Highlighting the severe humanitarian and economic consequences, the Secretary-General emphasized the urgent need for a diplomatic solution. He condemned attacks across the region, including those by Iran and Hezbollah, and called on Israel and the United States to end military operations that are hitting civilians hardest.
“The Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon,” he warned, reflecting concerns from his recent visit to Lebanon, where he witnessed the toll of the conflict firsthand. He also stressed the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, noting that disruptions there are affecting the global movement of oil, gas, and fertilizer during a critical planting season.
To bolster UN efforts, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of Jean Arnault as his Personal Envoy to lead diplomatic initiatives addressing the conflict and its consequences. “A number of initiatives for dialogue and peace are underway. They must succeed,” he said.
The Secretary-General concluded with a clear message: “War is not the answer. Diplomacy is the way out. Full respect of international law is the way out. Peace is the way out.”
Global markets have already felt the shockwaves of the conflict, while humanitarian operations face mounting constraints. The UN remains deeply engaged in minimizing the war’s impact, particularly on civilians who bear no responsibility for the violence.
