European Union Chief of Foreign Policy Josep Borrell urged all parties, on Saturday, to refrain from further escalation in the Middle East following US strikes on Iran-linked groups in Syria and Iraq.
European Union Chief of Foreign Policy Josep Borrell on Saturday called on all parties to avoid further escalation in the Middle East after US strikes on Iran-linked groups in Syria and Iraq.
The United States launched air strikes against Iranian forces and allied militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday, with President Joe Biden vowing more to come in retaliation for a deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan.
Borrell said the US response was expected after Biden signaled that Washington would hit back.
Borrell said that in a bid to calm the spiral of violence, the EU would launch a naval mission in the Red Sea this month to help protect international vessels from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.
Borrell said the mission would be “defensive” and not conduct any attacks on land against the Houthis.
The United States set up a multinational naval task force initially aimed at protecting shipping on the transit route, and practically serving as an offensive force within the region.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP