UN chief sees risk of full-scale conflict in Middle East

UN Secretary General António Guterres has said that the Middle East is at risk of a full-scale regional conflict.

"Just one mistake, one miscalculation, one misunderstanding can lead to a full-scale regional conflict," he said at a UN Security Council meeting, Interfax reports.

In Guterres' assessment, "there has been an escalation in recent days, both in words and in deeds."

He again called on the parties concerned to "step back from the brink."

Guterres criticised both the recent Iranian strikes on Israel and the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that preceded them.

The UN secretary general also called for a halt to the fighting in Gaza.