FRG Chancellor Scholz: Iran risks igniting a conflagration in the entire Middle East
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply condemned the Iranian missile attack on Israel, saying Tehran risks starting a fire in the entire Middle East.
‘Iran risks starting a fire in the entire region – this must be prevented under all circumstances,’ Scholz said Wednesday, whose words were quoted by the Spiegel newspaper. ‘Iranian missile strikes on Israel are subject to the strongest condemnation,’ the chancellor added.
He also called on Iran and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah to immediately stop attacks on Israel. In addition, Scholz pledged to continue working with partners on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
‘Such a ceasefire should be the beginning of the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which clearly stipulates that the Hezbollah movement must withdraw from the border zone with Israel,’ the chancellor added.
Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) press service reported that Iran fired about 180 rockets at Israel, many of which were intercepted. Meanwhile, videos on social media captured the impacts in different parts of Israel. The attack in the West Bank killed one person, who was an illegal immigrant from the Gaza Strip. The ambulance service reported several cases of minor shrapnel wounds and injuries on the way to shelters. IDF Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said the decision to launch retaliatory strikes now rests with Israel. Iran, on the other hand, warned Israel against further aggression, warning that if Israeli provocations were repeated, Iran’s response would be even more powerful.
