‘It is crucial to prevent regional escalation,’ Indian premier tells Israel’s Netanyahu

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – India on Monday said that it was “crucial” to avert a regional escalation in the Middle East amid Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

In a phone call, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in the Middle East.

“Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages,” Modi wrote on X after speaking to Netanyahu.

He added that India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability.

Modi’s talk with Netanyahu came amid Israeli airstrikes targeting southern and eastern Lebanon.

Since Sept. 23, Israel has launched massive airstrikes against what it calls Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, killing more than 960 people and injuring over 2,770 others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, along with several Hezbollah commanders, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the capital Beirut on Friday.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's war on Gaza last October, which has killed nearly 41,600 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.,

The international community has warned that Israeli attacks in Lebanon could escalate the Gaza conflict into a wider regional war.​​​​​​​