PM urges immediate de-escalation of Middle East tensions

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, involving Israel and its neighbours.

He said Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen are “deliberate attempts” to divert the focus away from its acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

“This escalation is plainly aimed at keeping Israel’s current political leaders in power and out of prison, sacrificing innocent lives at the altar of one man’s political career.

“We must urgently prevent a dangerous cycle of action and reaction, which threatens to draw even more parties into the conflict, further deepening instability and broadening the scale of destruction,” Anwar said on Facebook today.

The prime minister further urged all concerned parties to immediately reduce hostilities and establish conditions necessary to prevent a broader regional conflict from erupting.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said 55 people were killed and 156 others injured from Israeli airstrikes in the country in the last 24 hours.

Since Sept 23, the Israeli army has conducted an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon in an escalation with Hezbollah.

Since Oct 8, 2023, Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border amid fears of a broader conflict as the war between Hamas and Israel continues in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has also launched dozens of missiles against Israeli military bases, including one which houses F-35 aircraft.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Iran will face retaliation after its missile attack on his country.

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