Jordanian King says Israel is expanding its ‘battleground’
Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Jordan’s King Abdullah has called for an end to the Israel-Iran conflict, describing it as a global threat.
“With Israel’s expansion of its offensive to include Iran, there is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end, and that is a threat to people everywhere,” said King Abdullah.
“Ultimately, this conflict must end. If the world fails to act decisively it will be complicit in Israel’s crimes.”
China’s Xi ‘deeply worried’ about Israel’s military action against Iran
Chinese state media is carrying some quotes by President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in Kazakhstan.
“Israel launching military action against Iran has caused a sudden escalation in tension in the Middle East, China is deeply worried about this,” Xinhua quoted him as saying in Astana.
“We oppose any act that infringes upon the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.”
Russia offers to mediate between Israel and Iran, says Israel ‘reluctant’
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russia is ready to act as a mediator between Iran and Israel, both of whom it has relations with.
“President Putin has said that Russia is ready to provide mediation services if necessary,” Peskov said during a daily news briefing.
“At present, we see a reluctance, at least on the part of Israel, to resort to any mediation services or to embark on a peaceful path towards a settlement,” he added.
Iran is one of Russia’s top allies, but has also been keen not to alienate Israel, with which it has maintained good relations over the years.
“It’s a very difficult balancing game that Russia is trying to play,” Nikolay Surkov, assistant professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, told Al Jazeera. “And Russia is sincerely trying to achieve some kind of a political solution.”
Iraq treads tightrope to avoid spillover from Israel-Iran conflict
With Iraq an ally of Iran and a strategic partner of the United States, Baghdad may struggle to avoid the fighting spreading to its territory, an analyst warns.
“There is a sizeable risk of a spillover escalation in Iraq,” said political analyst Sajad Jiyad. “Iraqis have a right to be worried.”
Jiyad said if the US supports Israel’s attacks, it “may lead to pro-Iran elements inside Iraq targeting US troops” or other American interests such as the embassy in Baghdad or the consulate in Erbil.
This could lead to the US and Israel taking retaliatory actions within Iraq, he added. Israel’s use of Iraq’s airspace to attack Iran has angered pro-Tehran groups, who accused US forces of allowing it.
Iraqi forces stand guard in front of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Baghdad amid anger at the US
