Top Iraqi diplomat fears spread of Gaza conflict to neighboring countries

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said on Tuesday that he feared the conflict in Gaza may spread to neighboring countries and last at least 10 more days.

During a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Hussein said: “We believe that the military actions that are currently taking place in Gaza can last at least 10 days. This raises questions about the reaction in Lebanon, primarily from Hezbollah, as well as the consequences of all these events for Syria and the impact on the situation in Iraq.

“We hope that there will be an international intervention to stop these military actions and find a just solution to the Palestinian issue,” he said.

For his part, Lavrov said numerous problems in the Middle East are rooted in the US and its allies’ unwillingness to implement decisions of the UN Security Council.

He called for the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel as required by UN Security Council resolutions.

Russia will continue efforts for the establishment of the Palestinian state in parallel with attempts aimed at immediately ending clashes around the Gaza Strip, he said.

The Palestinian Hamas group launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating Israel by land, air and sea. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence against Palestinians.

In retaliation, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza has risen to 765, including 143 children and 105 women, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Tuesday. It said the number of wounded has risen to over 4,000.

At least 900 Israelis have been killed and over 2,600 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.