World leaders call for de-escalation in Middle East

August 5, 2024 7

Diplomacy is in overdrive as world powers call on Iran and its regional proxies for restraint, amid fear an attack on Israel could come within the next 24 hours. Iran’s supreme leader is vowing revenge after a senior Hamas leader was assassinated in Tehran last week. Sarah Coates has more from Tel Aviv.

The White House meanwhile says President Joe Biden will meet with his national security team today to discuss developments in the Middle East. This follows the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and Lebanese group Hezbollah’s senior military commander Fuad Shukur last week. The White House’s deputy national security adviser, Jonathan Finer, told CBS they are trying to prevent any further attacks.

According to Reuters, the Group of Seven major democracies urged restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East, saying that recent events “threatened to ignite a broader conflict in the region.” The G7 urged “all involved parties once again to refrain from perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence, to lower tensions and engage constructively toward de-escalation,” in a statement.

Written by: Tonata Kadhila

Diplomacy G7 Hamas Hezbollah Iran Israel Joe Biden Middle East Crisis national security Us Politics