New Delhi: India has called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and a “diplomatic solution” amid renewed escalations in the West Asia war.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement Monday said India “deeply regrets the renewed attacks in West Asia” and described the developments as a matter of “utmost concern to the international community”.
“We call on all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, ensure that civilians are not harmed and conclude ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region,” the statement read.
It added: “This conflict has now lasted over 100 days and has already caused immense human suffering. It has also had a debilitating impact on the global economy and energy supplies.”
The West Asia war saw a flare-up Sunday as Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes against military targets in central and western Iran, responding to missile attacks from Tehran.
The Israeli military said fighter jets struck what it described as ‘military infrastructure’ belonging to the Iranian regime. The Israel Defense Forces later in a statement said that dozens of aircraft had completed an extensive operation targeting strategic defense systems inside Iran. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Israel had employed air-launched ballistic missiles during the attacks, The Guardian reported.
The latest exchange marked one of the most serious flare-ups between the two since a fragile ceasefire took effect in April. Iran claimed the missile launches were in retaliation to Israeli strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs last week, an area associated with Hezbollah. Lebanese health authorities reported that at least two people were killed and 20 wounded in those strikes, according to The Guardian report.
The escalation unfolded despite apparent diplomatic efforts by the US to contain the crisis. American officials said President Donald Trump had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for restraint following Iran’s missile launches.
Trump later publicly pressed both sides to halt military action. In a post on Truth Social, he called on Israel and Iran to “immediately stop shooting” and said negotiations toward a broader peace agreement were continuing.
“Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE! Final negotiations on “Peace” are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way. The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a “Final Deal” is reached. Things should move quickly,” he wrote.
Yet signs of likely escalation persisted. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that American military bases and assets in the region were now “legitimate targets”, leading to fears that the conflict could draw in additional actors, said The Guardian report.
The Israeli military said it was preparing for several more days of fighting, or potentially a prolonged military campaign. Israel also said that an air-defense system intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward its territory, with no casualties reported.
(Edited by Archishman Ganguly)
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