Pope Leo XIV discussed the Middle East situation following his usual Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square. A crowd of pilgrims gathered to join in the prayer led by Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City, where he expressed deep concern for the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. He emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire, describing the death and suffering as a global tragedy that affects all of humanity.
The Pope stressed the urgency for action, stating that the suffering caused by the conflicts is unacceptable and must be addressed collectively. He called for prayers to end the hostilities and to pave the way for peaceful resolutions through dialogue and mutual respect for every individual’s dignity.
As reports of escalating violence in the Middle East surfaced, with the conflict entering its 23rd day, casualties continued to rise. Lebanon witnessed over 1,000 fatalities, while Iranian missile strikes left at least 160 injured in Israeli towns. Additionally, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain reported incursions by drones and missiles in their airspace. Iran reported a death toll of approximately 1,444 with over 18,000 injured.
Israel’s military disclosed that Iran launched more than 400 ballistic missiles toward the country during the conflict, with a high interception rate of around 92%. Meanwhile, Iran targeted its Gulf neighbors, with Saudi Arabia detecting three ballistic missiles near its capital.
The UK Ministry of Defence condemned Iran’s aggressive actions after two intermediate-range ballistic missiles targeted the UK-US base at Diego Garcia. Despite one missile failing in flight, the second was intercepted by a US warship. This marked Iran’s first operational use of such missiles to threaten US interests beyond the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump criticized the UK for what he deemed a delayed response to allowing the US to utilize British bases for potential strikes on Iranian targets. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed concerns over the safety of British nationals due to this decision.
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