S. Sudan peace deal collapse risks 'all-out war': UN Experts
NNA - Failure to uphold South Sudan's peace accords could trigger a "catastrophic" return to war and threaten millions of lives, the UN commission documenting rights abuses in the country warned Thursday.
South Sudan's opposition said the arrest overnight of First Vice President Riek Machar, the long-time rival to President Salva Kiir, had invalidated their 2018 peace deal, the cornerstone of the nation's fragile stability.
The arrest, alongside mounting military clashes and reported attacks on civilian populations, "signals a severe unravelling of the peace process -- and a direct threat to millions of lives", the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said in a statement.
"Failure to uphold the protections enshrined in the Peace Agreement -- including freedom of movement, political participation, and the cessation of hostilities -- will lead to a catastrophic return to war." -- AFP
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'Avoid escalation': World reacts to Israel strike on Iran
by Naharnet Newsdesk 13 June 2025, 16:37 World leaders urged restraint on Friday after Israel pounded Iran, striking 100 targets including nuclear and military sites, and killing senior figures. Here is a roundup of key reactions: - 'Cannot have nuclear bomb': United States - "There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end," US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform, adding that Israel has a lot of weapons thanks to the United States and "they know how to use it". Earlier in the day, Trump told Fox News that "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table." - 'Maximum restraint': UN - UN chief Antonio Guterres asked "both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford," according to a spokesperson. Guterres was "particularly concerned" by Israel's strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations. - 'Unacceptable' and 'unprovoked': Russia - "Russia is concerned and condemns the sharp escalation of tensions," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agencies, calling the strikes "unacceptable" and "unprovoked", while the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv urged Russians in Israel to leave the country. - 'Deeply worried': China - "The Chinese side... is deeply worried about the severe consequences that such actions might bring," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, calling "on relevant parties to take actions that promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions". - 'Diplomacy best path forward': EU - "The situation in the Middle East is dangerous. I urge all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. Diplomacy remains the best path forward, and I stand ready to support any diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. - 'Right to defend itself' : France - "France reaffirms Israel's right to defend itself and ensure its security," French President Emmanuel Macron said in English on X, calling "on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to de-escalate" and "avoid jeopardizing the stability of the entire region". - Avoid 'further escalation': Germany - Germany, which for years expressed concerns about Iran's "advanced nuclear weapons program", said it was "ready to use all diplomatic means at our disposal to influence the parties to the conflict. The goal must remain that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons". - 'Dangerous escalation': Hamas - "This aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilize the region," said the Iran-backed, Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war. - Threaten to 'ignite the region' : Hezbollah - Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, long seen as the Iran-led axis's most powerful group, said of Israel: "This enemy adheres to no logic or laws and knows only the language of killing, fire, and destruction," adding that the "brutal" strike threatened to "ignite the region". - 'Threat to international peace': Iraq - Iraq strongly condemned the attacks, saying: "This act represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security." - No 'battleground': Jordan - "Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict," a government spokesperson told AFP after Jordan closed its airspace. - 'Dangerous approach': Oman - Nuclear talks mediator Oman said "calls on the international community to adopt a clear and firm position to put an end to this dangerous approach, which threatens to rule out diplomatic solutions and jeopardize the security and stability of the region". - 'Strong condemnation': Qatar - Gaza mediator Qatar expressed "its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack," the Gulf state's foreign ministry said, adding that the "dangerous escalation threatens security and stability of the region and hinders efforts to de-escalate and reach diplomatic solutions". - 'Aggressive actions': Turkey - "Israel's attacks on our neighbor Iran are a clear provocation that disregards international law," said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a vocal critic of Israel and a fervent advocate of the Palestinian cause, urging the international community to "put an end to Israeli banditry". - 'Reduce tensions urgently': UK - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region." - 'Legitimate right to defend itself': Yemen's Houthis - Tehran-backed Houthi rebels said they backed "Iran's full and legitimate right to... develop its nuclear program" and that "we strongly condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and affirm its full and legitimate right to respond by all possible means".
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Iraq accuses Israel of using its airspace to attack Iran
Iraq filed a complaint on Friday with the United Nations Security Council over Israel's "violation of Iraqi airspace" in a major attack on Iran, Baghdad's foreign ministry said. "These practices constitute a flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty," the ministry said, calling on "the Security Council to assume its responsibilities" and act to "prevent the recurrence of such violations." AFP
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UN Security Council to meet on Iran on Friday
The United Nations Security Council will meet later on Friday over Israel's strikes on Iran, diplomats said. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the meeting in a letter to the 15-member body, saying Israel "has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished." "Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts," Araghchi wrote. Reuters
