The EU's top diplomat warned against escalation in the Middle East

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged all countries on Saturday to avoid further escalation in the Middle East following US strikes against Iran-linked groups in Syria and Iraq.
"Everyone must try to avoid the situation becoming explosive," Borrell told a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. The United States launched airstrikes against Iranian forces and allied militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday, with President Joe Biden vowing to launch more in retaliation for a deadly drone attack on a US base in Jordan.
Borrell did not directly address the US strikes, but repeated the warning that the Middle East "is a cauldron that can explode". He pointed to the war in Gaza, violence on the Lebanese border, bombings in Iraq and Syria and attacks on ships in the Red Sea. "That's why we urge everyone to try to avoid escalation," Borrell said.
The EU intends to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea later this month to help protect international vessels from attacks by Yemen's Houthis. Borrell said the mission would be "defensive" and would not carry out any ground attacks against Yemeni rebels. /BGNES, AFP