S/PV.9762 Security Council

At the outset, I would like to remind everyone that the Security Council is a place of respect  — respect among members of the Organization and respect vis-à-vis their representatives. I urge all speakers to observe appropriate standards of tone, wording and content in their remarks. I also underscore that, as a general rule, the Council encourages all participants  — members and non-members alike  — to keep their statement to under five minutes. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Iraq, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Mr. Khiari. Mr. Khiari: The Middle East region witnessed yet another dangerous escalation over the weekend. In the early hours of 26 October, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had conducted “precise strikes on military targets in Iran”, facilities that Israel said were manufacturing missiles, including Iran’s surface-to-air missile arrays and Iranian aerial capabilities. That was the first time that Israel’s military claimed responsibility for attacking sites in Iran. Israel said that the strikes were in response to Iran’s attack against Israel on 1 October. The Islamic Republic of Iran stated that the Israeli military air strikes had targeted several sites in and around the provinces of Khuzestan, Ilam and Tehran, with most of the missiles intercepted by its air defence system. Iran confirmed that four Iranian military officers and one civilian had been killed. According to the General Staff of Iran’s armed forces, the attacks caused limited and minor damage to several radar systems. The latest exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran risks plunging the region into the unknown, at a time when we urgently need de-escalation on all fronts. I echo the Secretary-General’s condemnation of all acts of escalation. Those acts must stop. Belligerent and threatening rhetoric must cease. Both sides must stop testing the limits of each other’s restraint and act in the interest of peace and stability in the region. The past year has unleashed untold suffering for people across the Middle East. Tomorrow, the Council will receive a detailed briefing from Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland on the latest developments in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed shock and despair at the unbearable conditions of Palestinian civilians trapped in north Gaza. The levels of death, injury and destruction in the north are harrowing. Civilians are stuck under rubble. The sick and wounded are going without life-saving healthcare. Families lack food and shelter, amid reports of them being separated and many people being detained. The postponement of the final phase of the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza is putting the lives of thousands of children at risk. Living conditions in north Gaza, especially in and around Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, are becoming untenable. In Lebanon, hostilities between Hizbullah and the IDF continued through the weekend, including clashes on the ground in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported 28 fatalities in southern Lebanon on 27 and 28 October, while five IDF reservists were reported killed on 26 October. Hizbullah issued a displacement notice to residents of northern Israel for the first time on 25 October, while Israel continued air strikes across areas of Lebanon, including in the south, the Bekaa and the southern suburbs of Beirut in recent days. I repeat the Secretary-General’s consistent calls for immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and accountability for crimes under international law. I urge all parties to cease all military action in order to prevent an all-out regional war and to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.

I thank Mr. Khiari for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make a statement.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to you, Madam President, for your swift response in convening this urgent meeting at the request of Algeria, China and Russia. I also thank Mr. Khiari for his briefing. Since the start of Algeria’s term in the Security Council last January, we have warned about the risk of the Israeli aggression against Gaza spreading across the Middle East. Unfortunately, that risk has become a reality. Today we face a regional conflict with serious and foreseeable global consequences. In spite of that, some Council members are still reluctant to call the current situation a threat to international peace and security. The Israeli attacks are an undeniable breach of international peace, and the Council must act to restore international peace and security. Algeria condemns in the strongest terms the recent military attacks perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We stand in full solidarity with Iran, condemning those attacks as violations of its sovereignty and as a clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. The international community has a duty to curb the Israeli occupation and stop its continued escalation, which has brought the Middle East into an endless cycle of instability. After the Israeli air strikes on Iranian diplomatic premises in Damascus last April, we emphasized that true peace requires adherence to United Nations principles and respect for international law by all (see S/PV.9602). Applying double standards to international law weakens our global legal order and the credibility of the Council itself. Today our message remains the same: international law must be respected, with no exceptions. No one is above the law, and the Israeli occupying Power must be held accountable for its actions. The crises in the Middle East are interconnected and must be addressed together. Their root cause is very well known — it is the ongoing Israeli occupation of Arab lands. Recent events must not eclipse the central issue of aggression against the Palestinian people. In the short term, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon is essential to end the violence. In the long term, lasting peace requires ensuring that Palestinians are able to enjoy their legitimate rights and that the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories is put to an end. In that regard, the Security Council must uphold its responsibilities, and we call on all members of the Security Council to impose an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital and bring an end to the Israeli occupation of all Arab lands.

I thank you, Madam President, for convening this meeting at the request of Iran, Algeria, China and Russia. I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. On 26 October, Israel launched rounds of air strikes against several sites in Iran, causing damage to facilities and casualties on the Iranian side. China condemns any violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and opposes acts of destruction that threaten regional peace and security. At present, Iranian-Israeli relations and the situation in the entire Middle East region are on the edge. We are gravely concerned about the escalation caused by Israel’s actions, and we urge Israel to effectively cease all provocative acts. At the same time, we call on all parties to exercise calm and restraint, jointly abide by the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law and return to the right track of resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means. The situation in the Middle East has long been and remains precarious, with the Gaza conflict still dragging on, a new conflict breaking out in Lebanon and continued tensions between Syria and Israel and in the Red Sea. At this critical moment, all parties should heed the overwhelming call of the international community for a ceasefire and a halt to the fighting, fully implement Security Council resolutions and make unremitting efforts to de-escalate and restore peace and tranquillity in the region. Any reckless provocation or military adventurism to expand the fighting is irresponsible and is highly likely to lead to miscalculation and disastrous consequences. It must be pointed out that the fundamental reason for the continued worsening of tensions in the Middle East is that a ceasefire in Gaza has remained elusive. The fact that a number of Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire have been shelved undermines the Council’s own authority and is not conducive to finding a fundamental solution to the conflict. China is of the view that under the current circumstances, the Council should utilize all the means available to it under the Charter in order to ensure the implementation of its relevant resolutions. We call on the country with significant influence on Israel to prioritize saving lives and preventing war above all else, abandon any other political calculations and support the Council in taking further vigorous actions on the current situation, so as to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a cooling down of the situation between Lebanon and Israel and effectively curb the expansion and spread of the conflict.

We would like to thank the Swiss presidency for promptly convening an emergency Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, which we requested along with the delegations of Algeria and China. We are also grateful to Assistant Secretary- General Khaled Khiari for his briefing on yet another round of escalation in the Arab-Israeli conflict. We have taken note of the letter circulated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Abbas Araghchi, which contained information about what happened. As we are all well aware, on the night of 25 to 26 October, the Israeli air force delivered strikes coordinated with the United States against a number of facilities in the Iranian provinces of Tehran, Ilam and Khuzestan, as a result of which four Iranian servicemen were killed. Had it not been for the successful operation of Iran’s air defence system, which was on high alert, the number of victims, primarily among civilians, would be very different. Unfortunately, the escalation that took place was predictable, and the Israeli authorities in recent weeks did not hide the fact that they were preparing to strike objects in Iran. At the same time, far from trying to talk West Jerusalem out of this extremely dangerous venture, the United States and a number of its allies stated, directly or indirectly, that Israel supposedly had the right to act in that way. By doing so, they acted extremely irresponsibly, since they deliberately provoked a new spiral of escalation in the Middle East, instead of trying to make the protagonists refrain from new exchanges of strikes. Moreover, as far as we can see, Washington also provided West Jerusalem with the intelligence information necessary for the strikes. That attack not only violates the principles of international law but also destabilizes the already highly charged situation in the Middle East, which is already teetering on the brink of a full-blown war. In that context, we are deeply concerned about the persistent and increasingly explosive escalation between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which poses real threats to stability and security in the region. We urgently call on all parties involved to exercise restraint, cease violence and do their utmost to avert a catastrophic scenario. It is important for all protagonists to find the strength and wisdom to finally break out of the uncontrolled and spiralling escalation. We are extremely disappointed that those were by no means the first air attacks by West Jerusalem against countries in the region. Since the very beginning of the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation, the Israeli air force has repeatedly bombed Syrian and Lebanese cities. West Jerusalem has also carried out a number of political assassinations, including that of the Hamas Political Bureau head Ismail Haniyeh, Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and a number of other leaders of movements opposed to Israel. Through those eliminations, Jerusalem is trying by any means to draw Iran — which is showing exceptional restraint in the circumstances — into a confrontation. It is not easy to avoid feeling that West Jerusalem is intentionally raising tensions, despite Tehran’s signals of its readiness to refrain from further escalations of confrontation. We believe that such aggressive actions on the part of Israel, aimed at stoking the flames of war, are absolutely unacceptable and must be stopped. We urge West Jerusalem to abandon its practice of provoking military actions in the Middle East, which are fraught with extremely dangerous risks and repercussions for the entire region, which is already destabilized owing to the escalation related to the Gaza Strip that has been going on for more than a year. The members of the Council must fight tooth and nail to prevent the Middle East region from tumbling into a new major war against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. We are extremely concerned by the ongoing disregard of the Israeli leadership, with the connivance of the United States, vis-à-vis the position of the entire international community in favour of an immediate ceasefire. Once again, we reiterate that West Jerusalem is not ready to stop choosing to resolve all conflicts with its neighbours exclusively by force. Israel’s determination to act in that way is driven by its American allies, who provide full support and political cover for the Israeli leadership, diligently supply them with weapons and block any attempts by responsible members of the Security Council to stop the Israeli military machine that ruthlessly destroys civilians  — attempts that would prevent the region from progressively sliding into a major war. It is clear that the root causes of yet another spiral of violence in the Middle East lie in the failure to settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions that we know too well. In that connection, we believe that there is no alternative to an urgent ceasefire in Gaza, accompanied by the exchange of hostages and prisoners and unimpeded humanitarian access, in line with the interests of all reasonable stakeholders, both inside and outside the region. At the same time, we call on the United States to act responsibly in discharging its duties as a permanent member of the Council and to finally allow the principal United Nations organ entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security to use all the tools at its disposal to stop the conflict and implement the existing relevant resolutions on the settlement of the question of the Middle East. That is the only way to do the groundwork for relaunching a peaceful process for the settlement of the Palestinian question on the internationally recognized basis of the two-State solution, which we all have always supported. That is the only scenario that can keep the entire Middle East region from a large-scale confrontation, which could trigger the most catastrophic consequences for all States, including Israel.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his briefing and acknowledge the participation of the Permanent Representatives of Iran, Israel, Iraq and Syria in today’s meeting. Guyana is alarmed at the escalating tensions in the Middle East. We have noted the reports indicating that at least five persons were killed in Saturday’s attack launched by Israel on the territory of Iran. We urge all parties in the Middle East to step back from the brink and to resist the temptation of tit-for-tat retaliatory action that embroils the entire region in a cycle of violence, suffering and pain. Any further attacks could have catastrophic consequences, including the loss of more innocent lives and further destabilization of the region. The world cannot afford a wider conflict, and the people in the Middle East certainly cannot either. We call on all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint and avoid a broader conflagration. Members of the Security Council have repeatedly sounded the alarm about the possibility of a regional spillover of the ongoing war in Gaza. Sadly, that spillover is now a reality. We are all painfully aware of the grave humanitarian consequences of Israel’s war on Gaza, the brutality of which has violated every tenet of international law, including international humanitarian law. We must do everything to prevent further expansion of military conflict in the region and avoid even more suffering and destruction being brought upon the people of the region. Immediate and decisive action by the Council is needed now to prevent a further escalation. Guyana reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for all parties to commit to dialogue and peace. We also call on both Israel and Iran to fully comply with their obligations under international law and relevant Council resolutions. We further call on the two parties to uphold the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, adhere fully to international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations and settle their differences peacefully. The consequences of the actions that are taken today will be felt for generations by the men, women and children who are legally owed their protection.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. Not even four weeks ago, on 1 October, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, many of which targeted the country’s most populous city, Tel Aviv. That brazen attack had the potential to kill hundreds of civilians and it very well could have, were it not for the United States’ military assistance in defending Israel, at President Biden’s direction. In the hours following the barrage, the United States convened Group of Seven leaders, including the leaders of several countries represented here on the Security Council. They agreed that there must be serious consequences for Iran. And we have seen those consequences come to bear. The United States issued new sanctions against Iran’s oil sector, including the so-called ghost fleet, which carries illicit oil products around the world. The United Kingdom and Australia issued new and sweeping sanctions against Iran’s missile programme. And the European Union, for the first time, sanctioned Iran’s civilian airliners, including Iran Air. That coordinated diplomatic effort across multiple jurisdictions reflects a firm international consensus that Iran’s aggressive actions against Israel, including in support of its terrorist proxy Hizbullah in Lebanon, are unacceptable. There is also firm international consensus that Israel has a right to defend itself against Iran’s attacks. And that is precisely what Israel did this weekend, when it carried out a targeted, proportional and direct military response against Iran, with no reports of civilian harm. Specifically, Israel conducted precision airstrikes against multiple military targets across Iran and outside populated areas. The United States did not participate in that military operation. Rather, we encouraged the Government of Israel to shape the operation as it did  — again, a targeted, proportional and direct response to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten its neighbours, deter further attacks and reduce the risk of further escalation. The United States message for Israel today remains clear: we will always help secure its people and territory from Iran and its terrorist proxies and partners. Our message for Iran remains clear as well: should it choose to undertake further aggressive acts against Israel or United States personnel in the region, there will be severe consequences. We will not hesitate to act in self-defence. Let there be no confusion: the United States does not want to see further escalation. We believe this should be the end of the direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran. Indeed, Israel has made clear to the world that its response is now complete. And therefore, we again call on Iran to stop its attacks against Israel and reign in its terrorist proxies. And we call on all members of the Security Council with influence to press Iran to stop pouring gasoline on the fire of regional conflict and instead contribute to de-escalation. The United States will continue to do our part to support a diplomatic path in the region; help bring about an immediate ceasefire with the release of the hostages, ending the fighting in Gaza and facilitating the urgent delivery of much-needed humanitarian relief to Palestinian civilians; and lead an effort to secure through diplomacy the end to the war in Lebanon, with an agreement that allows civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to safely return to their homes. Iran requested this meeting today. Its representative seeks to gaslight and deflect and claim the role of victim, while continuing to sow chaos across the region. And because Russia is increasingly reliant on Iranian weapons to sustain its illegal, unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, Iran believes this Council will have no choice but to look the other way and that we will not penalize it for flouting the Charter of the United Nations and myriad Security Council resolutions. But Russia’s words of support are hollow given its own actions in Ukraine. We have the collective responsibility to prove Iran wrong. Even in the face of obstruction by one member of the Council — Russia — we must impose costs for supporting terrorism and undermining international peace and stability. Our message today must therefore be clear: we will not allow the region’s future to be dictated by Tehran and its proxies, whose actions before, on and since 7 October have put millions of innocent civilians at risk. It is time for de-escalation, for Iran to cease its destabilizing activities and for us to get these diplomatic deals done. Together, we can — and we must — oppose Iran’s malign activities and create a future of peace, dignity and security for all.

We are grateful to Mr. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, for his important briefing. We welcome the participation at this meeting by the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic. The conflict between Iran and Israel has been a matter of grave concern to the international community as a whole. The mutual military attacks between these two countries are in our view to be deplored and condemned. They defy international law in general and the Charter of the United Nations in particular. We are conscious of the fact that under Article 51, the Charter recognizes the right of all States to self- defence. But the ongoing armed attacks are dangerous in nature and appear to be outside the scope of the Charter. They are retaliatory and reprisal measures that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States involved. We appeal to Iran and Israel to cease their tit-for- tat confrontation. It has the potential of leading the region and the world to disastrous and catastrophic consequences. In that connection, we note with regret that the persistent and direct confrontation between Iran and Israel since 1 April has exacerbated the situation in the region. The violence has had devastating effects on the civilian populations who are already suffering in the occupied Palestinian territories, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the broader Middle East region. It is our firm belief that diplomacy and dialogue — not the crude use of force — are critically needed at this juncture. In that connection, it is imperative that all parties involved, in particular Iran and Israel, exercise restraint and approach the situation with wisdom, prudence and statesmanship. The parties also need to strictly adhere to international legal norms in order to prevent further military confrontation. In that context, the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), which calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and the disarmament of Hizbullah, is crucial for achieving peace and stability in the region. Similarly, the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions on Gaza — which demand an immediate ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected population and the release of hostages  — is equally essential for de-escalating the conflict and providing relief to those in need. Mozambique reiterates its consistent appeal for the Security Council members and the international community at large to work together and speak with one voice in order to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East region.

I thank Assistant Secretary- General Khiari for his briefing. Today’s urgent meeting has been convened following Israel’s attack on Iranian military facilities last Saturday. That event is the latest in a series of acts that constitute a dangerous spiral of violence between the two countries. Japan is deeply concerned about the exchanges of attacks among regional actors, including the latest incident, and strongly condemns any action that escalates the already volatile situation. In that regard, it is important to note that the Israel Defense Forces have confirmed that they have concluded their response to Iran’s attack against Israel. Also, Iran has announced that it succeeded in its defence and that the damage caused by the Israeli air strikes was limited. That must be the end of the vicious cycle of retaliations. Any further escalation would bring devastating consequences. We strongly urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint. As a country that maintains a long-standing relationship with both Israel and Iran, Japan remains steadfast in our commitment to make all necessary diplomatic efforts to prevent a further deterioration of the situation. Conflict is spreading across the entire Middle East, from Israel to Iran, as well as to Iraq and Syria and to Lebanon and Yemen. The key is Gaza. An immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages will alleviate the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis. It will also help restore peace and stability in the inflamed region. Japan is encouraged to hear of the renewed diplomatic push by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to resume talks between Israel and Hamas. The recent exchanges between Israel and Iran should not hinder that important development, which could pave the way to lasting peace in Gaza and the region as a whole. We urge the parties concerned to show political will and end the agony in Gaza without any further delay. There is no time to lose, and the time is now.

Today the Security Council has been convened in response to the urgent request from the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the recent escalations, marked by retaliatory attacks between that country and the State of Israel. Let me thank Mr. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, for his briefing. Sierra Leone takes note of the letter from Iran dated 26 October 2024, as well as previous identical letters from Iran on attacks attributed to Israel and from Israel on attacks attributed to Iran and Iranian- supported proxies. Sierra Leone remains deeply concerned about those incidents, bearing in mind the overall situation in the Middle East, which already poses a serious threat to regional stability and international peace and security. We reiterate that those tit-for-tat attacks, which have been ongoing since April this year, serve no greater purpose than to increase tensions in the region and escalate the conflict to a wider regional conflagration. Both Member States have invoked the right to self-defence in their letters to the Council, yet it is important to outline what we are faced with by carefully examining how the claims of self-defence align with international law and the principles that govern the use of force. The fundamental tenet of international law, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, is the prohibition of the use of force, except in cases in which the Security Council mandates it under the collective security scheme or in self-defence against an armed attack, as outlined in Article 51. That Article creates a narrow exception within the broader collective security framework aimed at preserving global peace and stability. However, the recent actions by both Iran and Israel raise serious concerns regarding compliance with that principle. Neither Israel’s military attacks characterized by strikes on Iranian targets nor Iran’s retaliatory measures can be justified under the narrow confines of self-defence. Both States Members of the United Nations have engaged in actions that escalate tensions rather than contribute to a de-escalation of hostilities. The right to self-defence is not an open- ended justification for military action  — it must be proportional and necessary. The ongoing cycle of attacks and counterattacks demonstrates a troubling disregard for those essential principles, undermining the collective security scheme that the Security Council is mandated to uphold. Sierra Leone, in condemning the retaliatory attacks, is deeply concerned that the hostilities jeopardize not only regional stability but also the broader framework of international peace. It is imperative that both parties refrain from further escalation and engage in dialogue to address their grievances. We urge the Security Council to reaffirm its commitment to the prohibition of the use of force and to call for an immediate cessation of all retaliatory attacks and hostilities. The Council and States with sufficient influence must take decisive action to facilitate diplomatic dialogue aimed at resolving the underlying issues and preventing further violence. Let me conclude by reiterating Sierra Leone’s call on the parties to respect international law and prioritize peace over confrontation. We must work together to ensure that the principles of the Charter of the United Nations are upheld and that we navigate the crisis through dialogue, not violence.

I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. In a crisis of vengeance and retaliations, only a search for a common interest can prevail over war. That common interest can only be peace. Every provocation, strike and reaction lead us further away from peace. In our meetings over the past few months, we have repeatedly cautioned against an all-out war in the Middle East. We have repeatedly said that we are on the brink. Yet we repeatedly wake up to new developments that push us further down the spiral towards the abyss. Slovenia condemns Israel’s attacks on Iran, as it has condemned the Iranian attacks on Israel. The continuing escalation in the Middle East is becoming dangerously volatile and can lead only to destruction, plunging the region into the unknown, to echo the words of Mr. Khiari. We call for full respect for the principle of territorial integrity for all States in the region. We repeat our call for restraint from all parties involved. We plead with those countries with influence on countries and actors in the region to exert that influence. Every single actor contributing to the escalation has a responsibility in that cycle of violence. Let me clear: further retaliation and escalation of the conflict will not lead us to peace. We are convinced, as has been demonstrated, that many actors in the region possess the capabilities to inflict painful and significant losses on the other side. There cannot be a military winner in the conflict. It is the civilian populations across the region who will be its primary victims. We underline our call for an all-out regional ceasefire. We are appalled by the situations in Lebanon and Gaza, in particular in north Gaza. As the Secretary-General warned, the widespread devastation and deprivation resulting from Israel’s military operations are making living conditions untenable for the Palestinian population there. A ceasefire is urgently needed to achieve lasting peace, protect civilians and calm the region. We urge all parties to engage in diplomatic efforts in good faith and with a view to their speedy conclusion. The suffering of civilians across the region cannot be secondary to the individual interests of different actors. Against all odds, our search for the common interest of peace should not be an impossible challenge. Ever since the start of the war in Gaza, the humanitarian situation in the region has continued to deteriorate. In our own cycle of meetings, we should not forget what we are here to do. The recent celebration of United Nations Day should serve as another reminder of our resolve to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.

I thank Mr. Khiari for his briefing. On 26 October, Israel launched air strikes on military sites in Iran. The strikes were carried out in response to Iran’s ballistic missile strikes on Israel on 1 October. It is crucial that the actors involved refrain from any escalation or action that would further exacerbate the extremely tense situation that continues in the region. It is high time to work towards a de-escalation in the region, with the help of the international community. That is the responsibility of the Security Council. In order to achieve that objective, France is working to realize a ceasefire along the Blue Line and ensure the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). To take any other action would only worsen the current situation of instability. Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Israel knows from experience that its military successes do not necessarily mean victory in Lebanon. At the same time, France is committed to Israel’s security. Hizbullah must stop its attacks. We must not allow actors to use the war to prolong the situation of instability, either in Lebanon or anywhere else in the region. In Gaza, all the hostages must at long last be released and a definitive ceasefire must be achieved. That is the only way to put an end to the humanitarian disaster. Resolution 2735 (2024) provides a basis for achieving that end. France has reiterated to the media its call for full respect for international humanitarian law. There is now a real risk of an escalation of violence, which in the interest of no one. It would bring incalculable consequences for the people, the economy and the long-term stability of the region and beyond. That is why France today calls on all the parties to exercise the utmost restraint, as we continue to work actively with our regional and international partners towards securing peace and stability in the region.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for the information he provided. The continued escalation of this conflict is alarming and could have an incalculable impact on efforts to secure a much-desired stability in the region, which is why Ecuador rejects anything that contributes to the spiral of violence. In recent months, the parties have engaged in a series of incidents, attacks and missile launches, which must stop immediately. In that context, we have heard the parties invoke provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, such as those contained in Article 51, without there being a clear alignment between their actions and the letter and spirit of the Charter. That is why it is urgent to reach a ceasefire in the region. The continued exacerbation of tensions would discourage any prospects for peace. The parties must exercise restraint and comply strictly with international law. There have been continuous violations of international humanitarian law. It is time to prioritize the lives and safety of civilians, especially women and children. Ecuador joins the international community’s call on the parties to de-escalate tensions, mitigate threats and offer solutions to address the critical situation of civilians, who are living under conditions of extreme insecurity and anguish. In conclusion, I urge the parties to exercise maximum restraint and to act in accordance with the principle of good faith. We join the appeal by Secretary-General António Guterres and the majority of the international community to all parties to cease all military actions, including in Gaza and Lebanon. It is vital to prevent an all-out regional war.

I too thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his important briefing on the current situation in the Middle East. The Republic of Korea is once again gravely concerned about the perilous situation in the Middle East, including the attacks by Israel against Iran on Saturday. Since Iran launched 200 projectiles against Israel about a month ago, the international community, including the Republic of Korea, has been carefully monitoring the possible reactions by Israel. Despite the global calls for urgent de-escalation and dialogue, it is deeply regrettable that further cyclical violence has taken place in the Middle East. We take note that the attacks on the weekend targeted military premises. However, it is seriously disturbing that over the past year, the vicious circle of violence has not been interrupted in the region. In April, we witnessed a similar situation reach a critical point as the two countries engaged in direct attacks. They managed to avert a full-blown armed conflict at that time. We believe that the two countries are wise enough to avoid a wider conflict this time too. A full-scale conflict in the region would help no one and only imperil the lives of ordinary, innocent civilians. As such, we urge all actors in the region, both State and non-State actors, to halt any additional escalatory actions. The risk of miscalculation looms large. We therefore call for maximum restraint by all actors and appeal to those actors to break the cycle of violence and vengeance and recalibrate towards the pursuit of dialogue and diplomacy — the only option to restore security and safety in the region. We note that the extreme instability currently convulsing the Middle East started with the terrorist attacks by Hamas one year ago and the massive Israeli military operations in Gaza that followed those attacks. Since the outbreak of the current situation in Gaza, the members of the Security Council have repeatedly warned against the spillover effects of the conflict. It is deeply alarming that the spillover is not only the ongoing current reality but is also heading towards the worst-case scenario, in which major regional Powers are exchanging direct attacks. However, despite that reality, the Republic of Korea believes that we can still step back from the brink. We therefore once again call for an immediate ceasefire both in Gaza and in Lebanon and urgent de-escalation in the wider region. The civilians in the Middle East, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity or religion, all deserve peace and security.

I too thank Mr. Khiari for his briefing. Today’s meeting once again reflects that the Security Council’s repeated calls for caution and restraint continue to be disregarded by the parties in the region. At a time when our focus should be on defusing tensions and ending hostilities, we instead continue to witness steps and decisions in the opposite direction. The recent attacks and retaliatory strikes between Israel and Iran are extremely worrisome. They take the risk of miscalculation, misinterpretation of intentions and human error to unacceptable heights, in what is an already incredibly volatile context, and bring the region closer to the precipice. Let us stress once again that this is not the time to engage in risky standoffs. This is not the time to test limits. This is not the time for inflammatory rhetoric and threats to further escalations. Such high-stakes manoeuvres and unnecessary gambles serve only to put civilians at risk, further destabilize the region and undermine any prospects for peace. What we need at this moment in time is a measured approach, by which all parties commit to diplomacy and dialogue. We have a window of opportunity to end the hostilities and give peace a chance. Let us seize it without further delay. We also call on all countries in the region, including those with influence over the parties, to facilitate and encourage de-escalation towards a peaceful solution. As we speak, civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon continue to bear the brunt of the consequences of armed conflict. As often happens, women and children are being impacted in a disproportionate manner. Similarly, we cannot forget about the plight of those being held hostage by Hamas, and we once again call for their immediate and unconditional release. Throughout the conduct of all hostilities, we unequivocally condemn all military actions that target civilians and civilian infrastructure. All parties must adhere to international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. That includes the obligation to protect civilians and the prohibition against the indiscriminate shelling of population civilian centres. There is no more time to waste. The Council must focus on prioritizing de-escalation and restraint as a pathway out of this bleak and volatile period. Cool heads must prevail. We must act in a united and decisive manner to ensure a return to the peaceful path. A step in that direction is through the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions. The full, immediate and effective implementation of relevant Council resolutions and the orders of the International Court of Justice is equally essential. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. Last weekend, Israel struck military targets inside Iran. Both Iran and Israel have conducted direct strikes against each other. But Iran is not just the victim in this conflict. Now, however, is the time to stop. Iran should not respond. All sides must exercise restraint. No good can come of pouring more fuel on the flames of this escalating cycle of violence. Iran’s escalatory attack against Israel earlier this month was the most recent in a long history of destabilizing Iranian activity in the region, including through its political, financial and military support for militias, Hizbullah and Hamas. We have been clear that Iran must end that support. All our efforts should now be on breaking the cycle of violence. Let me be clear: a regional war is in no one’s interest. My Foreign Secretary spoke with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts yesterday, emphasizing the need for de-escalation on both sides. We and our partners have been sending that message clearly and consistently. Only political solutions can restore peace to the region. That is why the United Kingdom has consistently called for immediate ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza. In Lebanon, a political solution consistent with resolution 1701 (2006) is the only way to secure a stable future for those on both sides of the Blue Line. Similarly, in Gaza, we need an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas. The death and destruction are intolerable, and we urge both Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire. As my Foreign Secretary said today, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly in the north, is catastrophic and completely unacceptable. The United Kingdom condemns the Israeli Government’s restrictions on aid access. They must enable more aid to enter now. There can be no justification for denying civilians access to essential supplies. We are also gravely concerned about the Israeli Knesset legislation voted on today that seeks to curtail the ability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to operate. Israel must abide by its obligations and ensure that UNRWA can continue to provide essential services to those suffering in Gaza and the West Bank. Now is the time for all sides to exercise restraint, immediately de-escalate and promote long-term peace and security in the Middle East, through dialogue and diplomacy.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Switzerland. As my colleagues have done, first of all, I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. In the face of the unspeakable suffering that continues to affect civilians in the Middle East, it is hard to imagine that the region could sink even deeper into violence. And yet, we have witnessed extremely dangerous developments in recent days, about which Switzerland expresses its gravest concern. A regional war will not lead to a favourable outcome and will endanger countless civilian lives. It is therefore imperative that all actors in the region immediately cease hostilities to allow for de-escalation. The Security Council must also fully assume its role. Switzerland condemns the dangerous escalation of violence in the Middle East, including Israel’s air strikes on Iran from Friday night into Saturday, as well as Iran’s firing of ballistic missiles into Israel earlier this month. Switzerland calls on all parties to act within the limits imposed by international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region must be respected. In that regard, I recall that acts of armed reprisals are prohibited by international law. Israel’s air strikes on a large part of Lebanon, the ground operation in Lebanon, the operations in the Gaza Strip and in particular currently in the north, the continuous attacks by Hamas and Hizbullah, as well as the offensives carried out by the Houthis and other armed groups in the region, must stop. Civilians are paying the heaviest price. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, including countless children. Several million people have been displaced as a result of the hostilities. All those attacks must stop immediately. It is imperative that international humanitarian law be respected by all parties in all circumstances, irrespective of any reciprocity or the question of the legality of the use of force. That includes strict compliance with the principles relating to the conduct of hostilities, such as the distinction between civilians and combatants, proportionality and precaution. Switzerland condemns all violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The will of the Security Council seems clear to us — the escalation of violence must stop and all the Council’s resolutions must be implemented. That applies in particular to resolutions demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and the rapid, safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. The same applies to the resolutions on maritime security in the Red Sea. In Lebanon, an immediate ceasefire is needed, as well as the re-engagement and full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) by all parties. Faced with the spiral of a regional war, which we must absolutely prevent, dialogue is the way forward. Switzerland supports all efforts to find diplomatic solutions that can lead to an immediate end to the violence throughout the region. All parties and those who have influence over them must now show maximum restraint. The guns must fall silent, immediately and in every country in the region. There is an urgent need to put an end to the suffering of the civilian population and to re-establish dialogue with a view to bringing peace to the region. The responsibility of a Security Council united in its action for peace is clear. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Allow me to start by extending our gratitude to you, Madam President, for convening today’s crucial meeting in response to our request. We sincerely thank our colleagues from Algeria, China and Russia for their steadfast support in calling for today’s meeting. We extend our gratitude to those members who have condemned Israel’s aggression and expressed their sympathy and solidarity with the people and the Government of Iran. We have carefully considered the views expressed by the Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Khaled Khiari. Today’s meeting is both timely and necessary to address Israeli acts of aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, an egregious and severe violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. As outlined in the letter from Iran’s Foreign Minister Foreign Minister to the President of the Council and the Secretary-General, the criminal regime of Israel has flagrantly violated international law and the Charter of the United Nations by committing a deliberate act of aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran. In the early hours of Saturday, 26 October, Israeli military aircraft launched long-range, air-launched missiles from approximately 100 kilometres outside Iran’s borders, using airspace provided by United States military forces stationed in Iraq. The missiles targeted several of Iran’s border defence radars in the provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran and military sites, as well. Iran’s air defences acted promptly, intercepting most of the missiles and thereby preventing substantial damage. Yet tragically, four Iranian military officers, along with one civilian, were martyred while heroically defending their homeland. At the same time as Israel’s aggression, 10 Iranian police officers were tragically martyred by Jaish Al-Adl, a foreign-backed terrorist group in Sistan and Baluchistan provinces. Israel’s aggression against Iran is obvious and does not occur in isolation. The aggressive attack is part of a broader sustained pattern of aggression and unchecked impunity with which Israel continues to destabilize the entire region, most notably through its ongoing aggression, ethnic cleansing and war crimes against the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. We condemn Israel’s aggression in the strongest possible terms. Israel’s hostile actions are a blatant and dangerous breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, particularly the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity and the prohibition on threats or the use of force against the sovereignty of States. The principles are not merely abstract ideals; they are foundational pillars upon which international peace and stability rely. Regrettably, the unwavering and unconditional support provided by the United States to Israel, coupled with its obstruction of the Security Council’s mandate, as a permanent member, has emboldened Israel to persist in its crimes and aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, and now against Iran, gravely undermining regional peace and security. The Charter obligates the Council to determine any threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression and take decisive measures to restore international peace and security. Under Chapter VII, the Council has the authority and the duty to respond robustly to threats to global peace and acts of aggression. That responsibility requires more than words or recommendations; it demands firm and resolute action. Israel’s persistent and systematic violations of international law, aggression against Iran and ongoing crimes in Palestine and Lebanon, as well as in Syria and Yemen, pose direct threats to international peace and security, and it demands the unequivocal condemnation and decisive action of the Council. Ignoring those violations are actively undermining the Council’s credibility and commitment to uphold the core principles of the Charter. Despite Israel’s flagrant violations, today we once again witness the glaring double standards exhibited by certain members of the Security Council, including the United States. These States have failed to condemn Israel’s illegal actions that stand in direct violation of the Charter and international law. Instead, they justify Israel’s violations and atrocities by calling them “self-defence,” whether such acts occur against Iran or against the peoples of Palestine and Lebanon, who are suffering under Israel’s systematic violence and oppression. Their selective invocation of international law undermines the values of the United Nations as a whole. Adding to such audacity, the same countries shamelessly ask Iran to restrain itself and ignore its right to self-defence. That demand starkly contrasts with their earlier refusal to call on Israel to refrain from its aggression against Iran for the sake of regional peace and security. Their double standards are clear to the international community. Their supposed concerns for peace and stability are empty words when, for more than a year, they have given Israel full political, financial, logistical and weapons support, enabling its continued atrocities, genocidal acts and war crimes on Palestinians, and now on the people of Lebanon. The international community cannot, and must not, remain silent in the face of such violations. The price of the silence is evident in Palestine and Lebanon, where Israel’s impunity perpetuates a vicious cycle of violence and instability across the region. We call on the Council to condemn Israel’s actions unequivocally and hold it accountable for its systematic and recurrent violations of international law, as well as for what it truly is — a calculated and sustained campaign of aggression and atrocious crimes that are not only destabilizing the region, but also seriously threatening global security. The peoples of Iran, Palestine and Lebanon, and indeed the entire international community, look to the Council to uphold justice, safeguard the principles of the United Nations and ensure that the rule of law prevails. We call on all nations, especially those in our region, to recognize their individual and collective responsibilities in safeguarding regional peace and stability. We extend our gratitude to the peace-loving countries, both in the region and beyond, that have condemned Israel’s aggression, understanding the gravity of those actions and the threats that they pose to all. The responsibility for the dangerous escalation lies squarely with the Israeli regime and certainly with those that enable it, foremost among them the United States, which remains Israel’s primary and unwavering supporter in committing the grave atrocities and also paralyses this organ in fulfilling its primary responsibilities. The United States involvement in Israel’s aggression through its provision of technical expertise and advanced military systems to Israel has further instigated and emboldened Israel to conduct its aggressive attacks against Iran. Therefore, the United States Government is complicit in Israel’s aggression and will bear its consequences. Furthermore, the United States has already been complicit in the ongoing war crimes and genocidal campaign targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in both Gaza and Lebanon. The vast majority of the bombs that Israel drops on Gaza and Lebanon are made in the United States. In conclusion, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently championed diplomacy as the pathway to addressing regional challenges and fostering peace and stability. However, as a sovereign State, the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its inherent right to respond at a time of its choosing to the act of aggression — a right clearly affirmed under Article 51 of the Charter. Our response will be lawful and fully compliant with international law.

I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Over the past year, Israel has made many promises. To the 101 hostages still held by Hamas terrorists, as well as their families and loved ones, we swore that we would do all that we can to bring them home. To the terrorists who orchestrated and participated in the mass murder, rape and kidnapping of Israelis, we pledged that justice would find them, no matter how long it took, how far they went or how hidden their bunkers. To our civilians in the north who face unrelenting terror from Hizbullah at the borders, we vowed that they would once again live safely and securely in their homes. They have our word that we will never rest until peace is restored, until every last terrorist is driven back from our borders. Finally, we addressed Iran directly in response to its brutal, calculated missile attacks on our civilian population  — almost 200 ballistic missiles aimed at cities, homes and sacred places. We promised that their actions would not go unanswered. We assured them that we would choose the time and manner of our response and that it would be painful. Those promises are being kept. Today those who have sown terror and hate  — Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Hassan Nasrallah —find themselves reunited in the darkest pits of hell. Their alliance in life was a pact of terror, and in death they face the consequences of their cruelty. Israel’s enemies now understand that its promises are not empty. But let there be no misunderstanding: our message goes beyond individuals, beyond the pawns. It is directed squarely at the Iranian regime — the puppet master behind those heinous acts. Iran’s leaders chose to assault Israel, to destabilize the region and unleash chaos. They promised us destruction; we have answered with strength. No sovereign country would tolerate hundreds of ballistic missiles aimed at its civilian population. No responsible Government would allow its people to remain under constant threat. On Friday night, Israel acted as any nation would to defend its citizens, secure its borders and neutralize an immediate threat. The Israel Defense Forces executed precise, targeted strikes on Iranian military assets deep within Iran’s territory. We struck missile-manufacturing facilities responsible for creating the very weapons that were launched against our civilians. Every aspect of the mission was crafted to remove the immediate threat, while minimizing any harm to civilians. The contrast of the manner in which we executed our operation with Iran’s missile attack could not be starker. While Iran recklessly aimed its missiles at entire civilian communities and cities  — Tel Aviv, Haifa  — Israel utilized the most precise munitions in the world to focus solely on military targets. Israel remains resolute. We will continue to act in defence of our people with precision, strength and an unbreakable commitment to the safety of our citizens. For years, Iran has deliberately escalated its efforts to destabilize the Middle East, arming and directing its terror proxies. From Hizbullah in Lebanon to Hamas in Gaza, from the Houthis in Yemen to the Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, Iran has seeded violence, chaos and destruction throughout the Middle East. But that violence is not limited to Israel’s border. It threatens regional stability, global security and economic stability. For years, Iran has openly violated numerous Security Council resolutions, chief among them resolutions 2231 (2015), 1701 (2006) and 2216 (2015). Iran’s ambitions reach far beyond Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. We all know it seeks dominance across the region and beyond, using terror as its primary tool to intimidate, destabilize and assert influence. The weapons it funds and distributes, the terrorists it arms and trains and the chaos it deliberately ignites do not respect borders or politics. Today it is us — it is Israel — in their crosshairs, but tomorrow it could be any of the nations represented here. Do not be mistaken. Many of my Muslim colleagues know very well that today they are targeting our capital; tomorrow it could be their capital. Every country within range of their proxies is at risk, and their terror network is global. Two massive missile attacks, first in April, then again in October, unleashed hundreds of ballistic missiles aimed directly at Israeli civilians. And yet, in the face of the Iranian regime’s flagrant act of aggression, the Security Council has failed to find its moral voice. The usual course calling for de-escalation is not only weak, but profoundly misguided. Iran’s regime has been emboldened by each muted response, each call for restraint and each failure to impose real consequences on the Ayatollah. That hypocrisy is not lost on Israel, nor on the people it protects. For months, we have warned this organ of the threat Iran poses not just to Israel, but to the broader international community. We have provided evidence, pleaded for decisive action and faced a wall of silence. Does the Security Council not see the gravity of Iran’s ambitions? We hear the words "diplomacy" and "negotiations". Can Council members not see what it really wants? How can members equate Israel’s defensive measures with Iran’s unprovoked assaults on our people? That is not just morally bankrupt, but also a grotesque distortion of reality. The failure to hold Iran accountable is an endorsement of its tactics. The Council’s silence in the face of Iran’s aggression sends a message to Tehran that its actions will go unchecked, that it may continue down that path without consequence. Israel does not seek war. Our mission, our commitment is peace. But peace cannot be achieved under the shadow of missiles and the threat of eradication. Our response was measured and proportionate. We took every precaution to focus our operations on military targets, ensuring minimal collateral impact. Israel’s commitment to restraint stands in stark contrast to the wholesale violence of Iran’s attacks. Our actions reflect our responsibility not only to our citizens, but also to the entire region. Every missile we destroy, every weapons store we dismantle and every terrorist we eliminate is a step towards the stability that every nation represented in this Chamber claims to desire. Iran’s leaders must take this as a warning: Israel has shown restraint, but from now on, they will see only strength. Any further aggression will be met with consequences that are swift and decisive. For every missile they launch, for every terror cell they sponsor, there will be reckoning. They must cease their reckless pursuit of dominance through violence and terror. Israel has acted to protect its people and its sovereignty, and it will not hesitate to do so again. We call on the members of the Security Council to act  — enough empty words, enough statements of concern. The Iranian regime must face real consequences for its actions. We demand immediate and crippling sanctions targeting Iran’s military and economic infrastructure. Designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps the terrorist organization it is. Isolate Iran diplomatically, but most importantly, take the necessary measures to prevent a lunatic regime from attaining nuclear capabilities. Imagine who will sit here in a few years if, God forbid, it will have nuclear capabilities. The world cannot afford to ignore the threat Iran poses. It is no longer a matter of words; it is a matter of action. Israel’s promises are more than words. They are our unbreakable covenant with those we protect and a warning to those who seek our harm. We have acted on those promises, and we will continue to do so. Our enemies and friends alike must understand this: when we vow to defend our people, those promises will be kept, no matter the cost.

I now give the floor to the representative of Iraq.

I would like to thank the delegation of the Swiss Confederation for its efforts and for convening this meeting. I would also like to thank the delegations of Algeria, Russia and China for requesting this meeting. We also thank Mr. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General, for his briefing. Providing political cover to the Israeli occupation authorities, invoking illegitimate reasons that contravene the provisions of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the inability of the Security Council to take decisive steps to put an end to the attacks and violations by the Israeli occupation forces  — all of those emboldened Israel to continue launching attacks, perpetrating crimes and enjoying impunity, without deterrence. That aggressive approach started in the occupied Palestinian territories and has expanded to include Lebanon and Syria. Its most recent manifestation is the act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Israeli military operations continue to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of those countries. On many occasions and in different international forums, including the Council, Iraq has warned of the dangerous consequences of the silence of the international community in the face of the aggressive Israeli behaviour, which continues without deterrence or accountability. Iraq strongly condemns the Israeli attack on Iranian territories, which represents a blatant violation of the sovereignty of Iran. It is also a violation of the provisions of international law and the United Nations Charter. Iraq stands in solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran. We stress that this act of aggression is a dangerous escalation that has adverse consequences for peace, security and stability in the region. It could expand the conflict and drive this region, already suffering from multiple conflicts, towards a dangerous precipice, and threatens to increase tensions. Iraq reiterates its firm and principled position calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. We will continue to work, at the regional and international levels, to support stability in the region. Iraq strongly condemns and denounces the blatant violation of the Israeli occupation authorities when their aggressor warplanes violated Iraq’s airspace and sovereignty and used Iraqi airspace to launch an act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran on 26 October. The Government of Iraq reaffirms that we will continue to mobilize at the United Nations and international levels to confront such violations. The Government of Iraq remains firmly committed to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Iraq. We will not allow for Iraqi airspace or territories to be used to launch attacks on other countries, especially neighbouring countries with whom we have relationships based on mutual respect and common interests. That position reflects the commitment by the Government of the Republic of Iraq to maintaining stability in the region through preventing the use of our territories in regional conflict. We will continue to support the resolution of conflict through dialogue and mutual understanding. In conclusion, given those events, it is necessary for the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security by taking clear and serious steps to put an end to those acts of aggression. We call for an immediate cessation of all acts of aggression and for respecting the sovereignty of United Nations Member States. We demand reassurances that such violations will not be repeated. We also call for an end to the occupation and for guarantees of security and stability in the region. We underscore that respecting the national sovereignty of States is one of the pillars of international peace and security, and that any violation of that sovereignty undermines efforts for peace and jeopardizes security and stability. We hope that the Security Council will take the proper measures to let Member States and their peoples feel safe and restore their trust in the international order.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.

In its frantic quest to set the region ablaze and start a large-scale war, the Israeli occupation entity, on the morning of Saturday, 26 October, launched an attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran, targeting a number of sites in three Iranian provinces and killing four military personnel. That Israeli aggression represents a flagrant violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran. It is yet another episode in a series of Israeli attacks on Iran, which targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus in April and assassinated an official guest in the capital, Tehran, in July. The Syrian Arab Republic condemns the Israeli act of aggression against Iran. It represents the occupation entity’s utter disregard of international law and its continued criminal approach against the States and peoples of the region. Syria supports Iran’s legitimate right to self-defence and to protect its land and citizens. That right is enshrined in international law and in Article 51 of the Charter. We firmly stand in solidarity with Iran in the face of that aggression. The Israeli aggression against Iran coincided with its aggression against Syrian territories, following intensification by the Israeli occupation entity, in the past few months, of its criminal attacks on residential buildings and neighbourhoods that are densely populated with civilians and on civilian infrastructure and border crossings. Those attacks and acts of aggression have led to dozens of martyrs and injuredand have terrorized peaceful civilians. Syria warns that this large-scale Israeli aggression knows no limits or controls and threatens international and regional peace and security. Its consequences on the region and beyond will be catastrophic. In that context, Syria condemns the financial support, in the billions of dollars, provided by certain Western States to the Israeli occupation entity, in addition to providing it with all sorts of lethal weapons and thousands of tons of bombs and ammunition, taking the lives of tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children, destroying residential neighbourhoods, schools, hospitals, United Nations premises, infrastructure and economic facilities that took long years to build. My country also condemns declarations by certain Western officials claiming Israel’s alleged right to self-defence. They are impeding the role of the Security Council. We stress that such political, military, financial and media support makes those States complicit in Israel’s crimes. It gives the occupation authorities a feeling that they are, seemingly, above international law. It emboldens the Israeli authorities to continue committing their genocide against the Palestinian people, their barbaric aggression on brotherly Lebanon and their attacks on the States of the region, including my country, Syria. Syria once again calls upon the Security Council to take immediate and decisive measures to deter the occupation entity and put an end to its aggression and brutal crimes, which threaten peace and security in the region and beyond. We stress the need to hold Israeli war criminals accountable and to make sure they do not enjoy impunity. In conclusion, my country stresses the need to implement the Security Council resolutions relevant to the Arab-Israeli conflict and to bring an end to the Israeli occupation of Arab territories, including the occupied Syrian Arab Golan.