Chancellor Olaf Schultz has condemned “in the strongest possible terms” Iran’s missile attacks on Israel, warning that they “threaten to further escalate the already tense situation in the Middle East.”

“Iran risks setting the entire region on fire – this must be prevented at all costs,” the chancellor said in his statement on the X platform, and called on Hezbollah and Iran “to immediately stop” their attacks on Israel, which, he noted, “were largely made possible thanks to Israel’s anti-aircraft defense systems”.

Together with our partners, “we will continue to work towards a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah,” he added, pointing to the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1701, which “clearly states that Hezbollah must withdraw from the area on the border with Israel.” This “would create the possibility for people to return to northern Israel and at the same time provide an opportunity to stabilize the state of Lebanon,” the chancellor noted.

“With the first anniversary of the horrific Hamas attack on Israel just days away, our thoughts are with the hostages and their families. Their fate should push everyone towards reaching an agreement on the basis of the proposals put forward by US President Joe Biden,” the Chancellor’s post concludes.