What's happened
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of a looming all-out conflict in the Middle East as Iran retaliates against Israel for a strike in Syria. Israel has vowed to respond, raising fears of a wider regional conflagration.
Why it matters
The escalating tensions between Iran and Israel pose a significant threat to regional stability and could lead to a devastating full-scale conflict. The international community, led by the UN, is calling for de-escalation to prevent further violence and loss of life.
What the papers say
The Independent highlights Guterres' warning of a potential devastating conflict in the Middle East, while Al Jazeera focuses on the UN's call for Iran and Israel to show restraint. South China Morning Post emphasizes Guterres' condemnation of Iran's attack and the need to prevent further escalation.
How we got here
The conflict stems from Iran's retaliatory strike on Israel following an attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria. The ongoing war in Gaza has heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, leading to a dangerous escalation.
More on these topics
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres GCC GCL is a Portuguese politician and diplomat who is serving as the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, he was the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees between 2005 and 2015.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.