UN expresses concern over recent strikes on oil facilities in Middle East

HAMILTON, Canada

The UN expressed concern Monday over reports of airstrikes against oil facilities across the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

"Turning to the situation in the Middle East, we continue to raise the alarm over the humanitarian impact of escalating violence across parts of the Middle East, which is driving rising civilian casualties, damage to civilian infrastructure and the growing displacement of people," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric during a news conference.

Noting that the UN is "particularly concerned by the number of reports of recent strikes on oil facilities," Dujarric warned that such attacks "could have serious environmental consequences across the region, with immediate possible impacts on safe water and air that people need to breathe and on food."

"This comes on top of strikes on water desalination plants reported in several countries," he added.

He also conveyed the World Health Organization's warning about the health impacts of these attacks, noting that "the Middle East was already facing immense humanitarian needs prior to this latest escalation."

Dujarric further said that “all possible precautions must be taken to protect civilians from the impact of hostilities and to avoid damage to health facilities, schools, water systems and other essential infrastructure.”

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,250 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls and senior military officials.

Iran has retaliated with sweeping barrages that have targeted US bases, diplomatic facilities and military personnel across the region as well as multiple Israeli cities.

Iran's drone and missile attacks have continued to escalate, with reports indicating that Tehran has repeatedly fired missiles laden with cluster munitions at Israel.

In the ongoing conflict, the airstrikes from both sides have hit oil fields in the Gulf as well as in Iran, forcing some oil producers to declare force majeure.