02:13Mandatory credit: UNTV. News use only
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for Israel and Iran to 'step back from the brink' and show 'maximum restraint', during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday.
"It’s time to step back from the brink," he told representatives. "It’s vital to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East."
"Civilians are already bearing the brunt and paying the highest price and we have a shared responsibility to actively engage all parties concerned to prevent further escalation," he added.
On Saturday, Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles towards Israel, which it said was retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month which killed a number of Iranian military commanders.
“The Middle East is on the brink," Guterres reiterated. "The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to diffuse and de-escalate. Now is the time for maximum restraint.”
Israel, which has not claimed responsibility for the earlier Syrian strike, reported more than 300 incoming projectiles on Saturday and said 99 percent were 'intercepted'.
During the tense UNSC discussions, Israel's representative compared Iran to the 'Third Reich' while Tehran said its own actions were 'necessary and proportionate'. The US called on members to condemn Iran.
Russia contrasted Guterres' immediate approach to the latest strikes with the lack of a similar emergency briefing regarding the Damascus attack. China called the earlier strike a breach of the sovereignty of both Syria and Iran, and said that with Iran's statement about a response, 'the matter can be deemed concluded'.
'Step back from the brink' - Guterres calls for 'maximum restraint' after Iranian attack on Israel
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for Israel and Iran to 'step back from the brink' and show 'maximum restraint', during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday.
"It’s time to step back from the brink," he told representatives. "It’s vital to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East."
"Civilians are already bearing the brunt and paying the highest price and we have a shared responsibility to actively engage all parties concerned to prevent further escalation," he added.
On Saturday, Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles towards Israel, which it said was retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month which killed a number of Iranian military commanders.
“The Middle East is on the brink," Guterres reiterated. "The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to diffuse and de-escalate. Now is the time for maximum restraint.”
Israel, which has not claimed responsibility for the earlier Syrian strike, reported more than 300 incoming projectiles on Saturday and said 99 percent were 'intercepted'.
During the tense UNSC discussions, Israel's representative compared Iran to the 'Third Reich' while Tehran said its own actions were 'necessary and proportionate'. The US called on members to condemn Iran.
Russia contrasted Guterres' immediate approach to the latest strikes with the lack of a similar emergency briefing regarding the Damascus attack. China called the earlier strike a breach of the sovereignty of both Syria and Iran, and said that with Iran's statement about a response, 'the matter can be deemed concluded'.
Mandatory credit: UNTV. News use only
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for Israel and Iran to 'step back from the brink' and show 'maximum restraint', during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday.
"It’s time to step back from the brink," he told representatives. "It’s vital to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East."
"Civilians are already bearing the brunt and paying the highest price and we have a shared responsibility to actively engage all parties concerned to prevent further escalation," he added.
On Saturday, Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles towards Israel, which it said was retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month which killed a number of Iranian military commanders.
“The Middle East is on the brink," Guterres reiterated. "The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to diffuse and de-escalate. Now is the time for maximum restraint.”
Israel, which has not claimed responsibility for the earlier Syrian strike, reported more than 300 incoming projectiles on Saturday and said 99 percent were 'intercepted'.
During the tense UNSC discussions, Israel's representative compared Iran to the 'Third Reich' while Tehran said its own actions were 'necessary and proportionate'. The US called on members to condemn Iran.
Russia contrasted Guterres' immediate approach to the latest strikes with the lack of a similar emergency briefing regarding the Damascus attack. China called the earlier strike a breach of the sovereignty of both Syria and Iran, and said that with Iran's statement about a response, 'the matter can be deemed concluded'.