Spanish, Jordanian foreign ministers discuss risk of escalation in Middle East

GENEVA

Spain's foreign minister said Monday that he discussed the risk of escalation in the Middle East with his Jordanian counterpart, underlining the need for action to prevent the spread of violence.

"I have spoken with my Jordanian colleague Ayman Safadiabout the risk of escalation in the Middle East and the need to make every effort to prevent the regional spread of violence," Jose Manuel Albares said on X.


"A cease-fire agreement is needed to stop this spiral and prevent further deaths," Albares urged.


Tensions have escalated between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel since Tel Aviv assassinated the group’s senior military commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike on a suburb of Beirut on July 30.

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran the following day in an attack blamed on Israel, although Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied its responsibility.

Hamas and Iran have vowed to retaliate for Haniyeh's assassination, while Hezbollah has pledged to respond to Shukr's killing.

Fears have grown of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed nearly 39,600 people since last October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.