ASEAN calls for “immediate cessation of hostilities” amid escalating war
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East following attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran across several countries in the region.
In a statement, ASEAN said the developments “continue to heighten tensions in the Middle East, and pose a grave threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace and stability.”
The bloc also called on all countries to respect international law, including the United Nations Charter.
The ministers said the escalation was “particularly regrettable” as it occurred amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including mediation initiatives led by Oman, aimed at advancing a negotiated solution.
Emphasising the need for restraint, ASEAN called for “an immediate cessation of hostilities” and urged all parties to exercise “utmost self-restraint” and resolve their differences through diplomacy and dialogue.
The bloc also reaffirmed the obligation of all states to resolve disputes peacefully and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations under international law.
It further reiterated the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflicts in line with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
ASEAN also underscored its commitment to providing emergency assistance to its nationals affected by the crisis, in accordance with regional guidelines on consular support for citizens of member states in third countries.
Casualties continued to mount across the Middle East following attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, and Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the region.
As of March 4, at least 787 people were killed in Iran and hundreds injured following the US–Israeli attacks.
International bodies and experts have widely condemned the strikes carried out by United States and Israel on Iran, arguing that they violate international law, including the prohibition under the United Nations Charter on the use of force without authorisation from the UN Security Council or a clear claim of self-defence.
António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, explicitly condemned the US–Israeli strikes, saying they undermine international peace and security and violate the UN Charter. He called on all parties involved to respect their obligations under international law and urged restraint to prevent further escalation. At the same time, Guterres also criticised Iran’s retaliatory attacks for breaching the sovereignty of other countries in the region.
Meanwhile, UNESCO, the UN’s education, scientific and cultural agency, condemned a reported missile strike on a primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab that killed at least 150 people, many believed to be students. The agency described the attack as a “grave violation of humanitarian law,” stressing that schools are protected under international humanitarian law and warning that such attacks endanger students, teachers and the fundamental right to education.
Across the region, Iran’s retaliatory strikes resulted in multiple casualties. Israel reported 11 people killed and hundreds injured, while Lebanon reported 40 deaths. In Kuwait, at least three people were killed and 35 injured, and Bahrain reported one death and four injuries.
Other countries also reported injuries, including 246 injured in Cyprus, 85 in Iraq, five in Jordan, and 16 in Qatar. In the United Arab Emirates, three people were killed and 68 injured, while one person was killed and five injured in Oman.
The US military also reported casualties, with six personnel killed and 18 injured.
The escalating conflict has spread across several parts of the region, raising concerns over broader instability and economic impacts, including turbulence in global markets.
