Kathmandu. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all sides to use diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, saying a series of attacks threaten the ceasefire.

Speaking on X, Guterres said the Middle East was plunged into a deep crisis due to a long war, and that the impact extended far beyond the region. He said that the situation is getting worse due to the increase in attacks in recent times. Shelling continues even during the ceasefire. He said that neither side should become aggressive and reduce the risk. Stating that all sides should play a role to find a diplomatic solution, he said that there should be no attack under any pretext.

Air defence systems in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain have issued warnings to intercept air targets amid a rapidly developing conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf.

Major developments in the conflict came after Iranian authorities announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US invasion.

Al Jazeera quoted Iran’s IRGC as saying it targeted 18 US military sites, including Ali al-Salem and Ahmed al-Jaber in Kuwait, and Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, in response to the US strike.

As tensions escalated, IRGC commander General Sayyed Majid Mousavi warned the US that the region could be turned into a battlefield if the US continued threatening the security of the Strait of Hormuz, Press TV reported.