Iran warns that effects of war in Middle East might spill beyond
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Tehran: The war in Gaza and Lebanon, between Israel and an alliance of Arab forces, might spill beyond the Middle East, warned Iran- who is among the Arab forces. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that the harmful effects of the war will spread to other regions, even far away, Agence France-Presse reported.
AFP quoted the minister from his speech aired on Iran state TV, "The world should know that in case of the expansion of war, its harmful effects will not be limited only to the West Asia region; insecurity and instability can spread to other regions, even far away."
Since October 2023, Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have been waging a deadly war in the Gaza Strip, killing around 43,000 Palestinians. Most of the dead are women, children and the elderly. Israel initiated its invasion in Gaza after Hamas carried out a lightning attack on Israeli territories, killing around 1,200 people and taking some 250 as hostages. Hamas is backed by Iran.
Recently, Israel has shifted its focus to Lebanon and the militant group Hezbollah, also supported militarily and financially by Iran, there. The two parties have been at full-fledged war since September.
Israel ran air strikes on military sites in Iran on October 26 after Tehran launched an attack on Israel on October 1. The Tehranian attack was a retaliation for the killing of leaders of the militant groups Iran backs, as well as the killing of a general of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
The October 26 attack on Iran killed four soldiers and damaged radar systems. Iranian media also reported the death of a civilian. Following the attack, Iran vowed that it would retaliate, though the US and Israel have warned against it.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has maintained that a potential ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon could affect Iran's response.
However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that a potential ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon could influence Iran's responses. If Israel accepts a ceasefire and stops massacring the oppressed and innocent people in the two regions, it could affect the intensity and type of response, the president said early this month.
Meanwhile, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday cautioned against an impulsive response to Israel. The adviser, Ali Larijani, told state television that Israel wanted to bring the conflict to Iran, but Iran must act wisely to avoid Israel's trap. Iran must not act instinctively, Larijani said.