(VOVWORLD) -The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Monday at the request of Russia, as the conflict in Gaza continues to fan tensions across the Middle East.
 Smoke rises after an airstrike in Mosul, Iraq. (Photo: VNA) |
She said UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly warned against further military escalation and the risk of miscalculation ever since Hamas attacks set the region aflame.
According to UN officials, daily incidents in the Middle East have included 165 attacks on US facilities in Syria and Iraq, prompting retaliatory strikes by the US.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun said the fundamental reason for the current situation is the failure to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. He called on all countries concerned to stop acting out of self-interest. All nations, he said, must remain committed to the common goal of regional stability.
Barbara Woodward, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN, said the UK fully supports all efforts to maintain and enhance international peace and security, including in Iraq and Syria.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday appointed an independent panel to conduct an assessment of UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees. The assessment will be led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who will work with three research organizations to determine whether the agency is doing everything it can to ensure neutrality and respond to allegations of serious breaches when they arise.