The Arab League has called for restraint amid growing tensions across the Middle East, with maritime security in the Gulf and Israeli military operations in Lebanon dominating discussions at a meeting in Cairo.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed the need to keep international shipping routes open, warning against the use of maritime corridors as instruments of pressure or escalation.
“We emphasise the necessity of freedom of navigation,” Abdelatty said, while rejecting actions that could further heighten tensions along key maritime routes.
The Arab League also condemned recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon, with at least 12 people, including women and children, reportedly killed in Monday’s attacks, according to information presented at the meeting.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Fahmy said Arab countries remained willing to maintain balanced relations with Iran, but stressed that such relations must be based on respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also called for an end to interference in the internal affairs of Arab states.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji strongly condemned the Israeli strikes, accusing Israel of violating Lebanon’s sovereignty and international law.
Rajji said the conflict had resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, further worsening the humanitarian situation in the country.
Meanwhile, an Arab ministerial committee called for intensified political, diplomatic and economic efforts to end what it described as Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem.
The committee also urged greater international efforts to safeguard Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites amid continuing regional tensions.
