German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said there is still time to avoid a major military escalation in the Middle East as Israel prepares for attacks by Iran and its regional allies.
“I urge everyone in the region to abandon the path of ever-increasing escalation. De-escalation is the order of the day,” she wrote on X.
“A new war will only bring new suffering on all sides. There is still a chance to turn the tide. Escalation is not automatic,” she continued.
Tensions are running high following last week’s targeted killings of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Both groups have deep ties to Iran.
In response, Iran and its non-state allies – including Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon – have vowed to launch a major attack on Israel.
Amid fears of escalating conflict, many countries, including Germany, are urging citizens to leave Lebanon. Baerbock said there are still opportunities to leave on commercial flights — and that Germans should take advantage of them as soon as possible.
