External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar voiced India’s concerns about the escalating conflict in the Middle East, especially as tensions between Israel and Iran threaten to spiral into a broader war. Speaking during an interaction with a Washington think tank, S Jaishankar emphasized India’s willingness to contribute through diplomacy and communication during these difficult times. “If there are things to be said and passed on, I think those are contributions we can make,” he stated.
He expressed concern over the potential for the conflict to spread beyond Israel and Lebanon, including to the Houthis and the Red Sea, underscoring the broader regional instability. S Jaishankar emphasized that any country’s response to the conflict must adhere to international humanitarian law and avoid civilian harm. “We understand Israel needed to respond to the October 7 terrorist attack, but any response must consider international humanitarian law and minimize damage to civilian populations,” he added.
The situation escalated on Tuesday when Iran launched 180 missiles into Israel in response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Israel’s ongoing military actions. This has raised fears of a regionwide war, with both Israel and the United States vowing to retaliate against Iran.
