Belgium expresses 'deep concern' about potential Mideast escalation

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The Belgian foreign minister expressed her concern about rising tensions in the region in a telephone call Saturday to Ali Bagheri, Iran's acting foreign minister.

Hadja Lahbib wrote on X that she talked to her Iranian counterpart and expressed Belgium's "deepest concern" about the risk of regional escalation.

"We call on Iran, like all regional players, to exercise the utmost restraint," added Lahbib.

Tensions are running high in the Middle East following the July 31 assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital of Tehran and Israel's assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination, while Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

Iran vowed "harsh punishment" for Israel in retaliation for Haniyeh’s killing on Iranian soil.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese group, is also expected to retaliate after Israel assassinated Shukr in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on July 30.

The escalation comes amid an ongoing Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip which has killed nearly 39,800 Palestinians following an attack on Oct. 7 by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, that killed 1,139 Israelis.