The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, received a phone call from the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, where they reiterated the significance of regional de-escalation, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
During the phone call, both leaders focused their discussion on the recent developments in the Middle East, stressing the importance of de-escalation and sparing the region the risk of a wider conflict.
Moreover, the Saudi Crown Prince and the French President reviewed the latest developments in Gaza and the efforts towards reaching a ceasefire.
I have spoken to President Mohamed bin Zayed and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the situation in the Middle East.
We call on all actors to show responsibility and restraint in order to avoid a regional escalation.
An escalation is in nobody’s interest.— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 5, 2024
Similarly, Macron spoke also with the Emirati President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
After the two phone calls, the French President posted on X: “We call on all actors to show responsibility and restraint in order to avoid a regional escalation. An escalation is in nobody’s interest.”
Concerns are growing in the region over an Iranian retaliation against Israel after the killing of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, on Wednesday in Tehran. Iran and its allies blamed Israel and vowed “severe response.”
Fearing further regional escalation, the US announced it will send more defensive capabilities to the Middle East, including additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers, the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, and an additional fighter jet squadron.
