In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, the UN Security Council met on Wednesday following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas. The session was called at Iran’s request amidst claims that the U.S. played a pivotal role in the incident.
Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, Saeed Iravani, asserted that such an operation would have been impossible without American authorization and intelligence support. “The responsibility of the U.S., as Israel’s strategic ally and chief supporter in the region, cannot be overlooked in this heinous crime,” he stated during his address. Iravani further suggested that Israel aimed to disrupt Iran’s newly formed government, which prioritizes peace and stability in the region.
In stark contrast, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative Robert Wood defended Washington’s policies towards Israel, emphasizing its right to self-defense against attacks from Hezbollah and other groups. “We were not aware of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and had no role in that operation,” Wood asserted. He also accused Iran of destabilizing multiple regions through its support for various groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.
The emergency session saw condemnation from representatives of several countries including Algeria, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Palestine, who denounced Israeli attacks on Gaza and Beirut alongside asserting violations of Iranian territorial integrity through the assassination.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric remarked that both the assaults on Lebanon and Haniyeh’s murder reflect a dangerous escalation of tensions within the region. “The Secretary-General has consistently called for maximum restraint from all parties involved,” he said. “However, it has become evident that mere restraint is insufficient at this critical juncture.”
As conflicts between Israel and Hamas enter their eleventh month with no ceasefire in sight, recent Israeli airstrikes have reportedly claimed 45 lives while injuring 77 others in Gaza, intensifying calls for international intervention and peace efforts.
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