Janice R. Andrews
Following the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has urged for calm between Iran and Israel in an effort to avert further escalation in the Middle East. Speaking while in Lebanon, Lammy emphasized the need to refrain from taking any steps that may exacerbate the already unstable situation.
Lammy met with Najib Mikati, the prime minister of Lebanon, along with Defense Secretary John Healey to talk about the rising tensions. The visit takes place in the midst of the Foreign Office’s escalating advice to British people living in Lebanon to leave the country due to increasing border confrontations. Those who stay run the danger of “becoming trapped in a warzone,” Lammy cautioned.
Tensions in the area have considerably increased after Haniyeh’s murder. During Haniyeh’s funeral at Tehran University, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, conducted prayers over his coffin with Masoud Pezeshkian, the country’s new president. Watched live on state television, the funeral procession saw people hurling flowers at the coffin as it made its way through the streets of Tehran.
In reprisal for the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, which started the current conflict in Gaza, Israel has pledged to assassinate Haniyeh and senior leaders of the organization. Iran has reacted with forceful words; it is well known that Iran supports Hezbollah and Hamas among other armed organizations.
According to reports, Israel launched a missile attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights over the weekend that resulted in the deaths of twelve children and teens. The strike was carried out against a leader of Hezbollah and was carried out in a Beirut suburb.
Lammy emphasized the need for moderation on X (formerly Twitter) after his discussions in Lebanon: “We must prevent further escalation in the Middle East and avoid miscalculation.” Nobody’s interest is served by having more people involved in this dispute.”
Earlier this week, Lammy and Healey traveled to Qatar to advocate for a de-escalation of the violence and to find a solution to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Echoing similar views, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged “all parties” in the Middle East to refrain from taking any steps that would spark new hostilities.
