During the night and day on Thursday, new deadly strikes have been reported throughout the Middle East, pushing the price of crude oil up to 107 dollars at the beginning of trading. Hopes for a quick end to the conflict faded as American President Donald Trump mentioned Wednesday evening “two to three weeks” of attacks, along with “ongoing discussions” with Tehran.
“Every day of war worsens human suffering,” noted the UN chief at a press briefing Thursday morning in New York, decrying the intensification of indiscriminate attacks, the targeting of civilians, and the destruction of essential infrastructure. He warned that the region is “on the brink of a broader war” with global consequences.
The economic repercussions are being felt far beyond the Middle East. Disruption in maritime navigation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, is leading to higher prices for energy and foodstuffs, particularly affecting the most vulnerable populations, from the Philippines to Sri Lanka to Mozambique.
Amid this “spiral of death and destruction,” the UN chief called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. He urged the United States and Israel to “end the war” and Iran to stop its attacks on its neighbors.
Diplomatic efforts are underway to pave a path to peace, he said, announcing the dispatch of his personal envoy, Jean Arnault, to the region. These initiatives must be based on respect for international law and the UN Charter.
Mr. Arnault was appointed by the Secretary-General last month. This veteran French diplomat has over 40 years of experience in international diplomacy, particularly in peaceful dispute resolution and mediation.
“Conflicts do not stop by themselves,” Mr. Guterres concluded. “They end when leaders choose dialogue over destruction. This choice must be made now.”
As the Secretary-General issued this appeal, the Security Council was holding a meeting on cooperation between the UN and the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional organization comprising Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Thursday afternoon, another meeting was scheduled on cooperation between the UN and the Arab League.
Providing an update on the situation before the Council members at the morning meeting, the UN’s Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari warned that the Middle East is on the edge of a dangerous precipice.
Risk of a global hunger crisis
Echoing the Secretary-General’s remarks, the World Food Program (WFP) warned Thursday that the initial impacts of the crisis in the Middle East are reminiscent of those seen at the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 when disruptions in supply led to a sharp increase in food prices.
If the crisis continues, an estimated 45 million additional people could face acute food insecurity “this year.”
The WFP anticipates a resurgence of acute hunger related to the conflict, based on models analyzing the impact of the global surge in energy prices on national food costs.
Tribute ceremony for slain UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
In Beirut, the Lebanese capital, a solemn ceremony was held Thursday at the international airport to honor the three peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) who were killed amid hostilities between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and Israel.
The three slain Indonesian peacekeepers are Corporal Farizal Rhomadon, Major Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, and Sergeant Major Muhammad Nur Ichwan. They lost their lives in two separate incidents, one on March 29 and the other on March 30.
“They perished while bravely carrying out their mission and peacekeeping duties within UNIFIL,” said the Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, at a press briefing in New York.
The three peacekeepers posthumously received medals from UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces, in recognition of their dedication to UNIFIL’s mission in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains concerning, the spokesperson said. UNIFIL reports ongoing rocket fire toward Israel, as well as airstrikes and artillery fire originating from Israel and striking several locations in southern Lebanon.
The hostilities continue to endanger the peacekeepers. Thursday morning, a peacekeeper was injured in the shoulder by a bullet while at a UN post near Meiss Jebel. UNIFIL immediately issued a ceasefire request. The peacekeeper received care at the post’s medical facility. The bullet, landing on the site, likely came from clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army in that area.
