Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian issued a stark warning to Israel yesterday, cautioning that continued military strikes on Gaza could push the already volatile Middle East region toward an uncontrollable spiral of conflict.

The Iranian Foreign Minister directly criticized the United States for its role in the conflict, attributing blame for the escalating violence to American military support for Israel. This statement comes amidst a backdrop of increasing regional tension, with the death toll in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, rising above 4,600 Palestinians in just two weeks.

Amir-Abdollahian, speaking at a press conference in Tehran, sternly warned, “If the US and its proxy Israel do not immediately cease their crimes against humanity in Gaza, the situation could rapidly deteriorate, pushing the region into chaos.”

The situation on the ground remains fraught with risk. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks just hours after Amir-Abdollahian’s warning, declared to his troops that the conflict against Hamas is a critical “do or die” situation for Israel. The rhetoric has reached fever pitch, with Netanyahu vowing devastating consequences for Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon should they join the fray.

This recent upsurge in violence follows a two-week period during which Hamas attacks resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people, drawing international attention and concern. Iran, known for its support of Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, has become increasingly vocal in condemning Israeli actions in the region.

US involvement

In the United States, high-ranking officials share concerns about the potential for this conflict to spread. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, appearing on ABC network’s ‘This Week’ programme, expressed apprehension about a “significant escalation of attacks” affecting US interests, urging parties seeking to exploit the situation to refrain from such actions.

Echoing Austin’s sentiments, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also discussed potential retaliatory actions by Iranian-supported groups like Hezbollah or Hamas, assuring that the US is prepared to defend its citizens and Israeli allies.

The conflict’s ramifications are already being felt beyond Gaza. Recent days have seen drone and rocket attacks on several Iraqi bases hosting US-led coalition forces. Further stoking regional tensions, exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have been reported near the Israeli-Lebanese border.

The situation in neighboring Syria is equally precarious. Early Sunday, Israeli missiles struck both Damascus and Aleppo international airports, rendering them inoperable due to significant runway damage and resulting in casualties among airport personnel.