Iran’s missile attack on Israel threatens to escalate the conflict into a full-scale regional crisis, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned on Wednesday, according to reports from AFP and DPA .
“Hezbollah and Iran must immediately cease their attacks on Israel,” Scholz urged in a statement released a day after the assault, cautioning against further escalation in the Middle East.
The chancellor emphasized that Iran risks “igniting the entire region,” and stressed the need to prevent such an outcome at all costs.
Scholz also noted that thanks to Israel’s advanced air defense systems and the support of its allies, the majority of the missiles launched by Iran on Tuesday night were intercepted. He reiterated that the German government would continue working with international partners to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
According to Scholz, the first step toward de-escalation would be the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the Israeli border area.
This, he said, would pave the way for the return of civilians to northern Israel and offer Lebanon a path to strengthen its statehood.
At the same time, Scholz strongly condemned Tehran’s launch of 200 missiles at Israeli territory, calling it an act of aggression that deserves the harshest condemnation.
