Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide joined other leaders around the world on Saturday in expressing his concern over US-Israeli attacks on Iran, and Iran’s rapid retaliation. Defense officials claimed all Norwegian military personnel in the area had been accounted for.
“I’m deeply worried that we’re getting a new, extensive war in the Middle East,” said Eide in a statement released by Norway’s foreign ministry shortly after the US and Israel started bombing targets in Iran. It didn’t take long before Iran was sending missiles of its own towards Israel and several US military bases in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.
News agencies were reporting by early afternoon that at least 57 people were killed and 60 injured near a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran. The country’s revolutionary guards also have a military base in the same area. More explosions in Iran were reported in Teheran and other cities around the country, prompting Iran’s retaliation.
One Norwegian on holiday in Dubai told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that he was lying on a beach in Dubai and saw a missile land in the water. He quickly returned to his hotel and, like many others, faces an uncertain return home since all flights to and from the Middle East have been halted.
Norwegian Air was among airlines cancelling all of its flights to and from Dubai at least until March 4. Airline traffic will resume only when it’s viewed as safe. The bombing has also interrupted other international air traffic, since air space has been closed over much of the Middle East in addition to the closures long in effect over Russia. Many flight routes between Europe and Asia have been going through the Middle East since Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago. Escalation of the new conflict with Iran can cause further travel disruption.
Norwegian authorities had already warned against travel to Israel and Palestine, sharpening the warnings as late as Friday, just before the bombings began. The foreign ministry warned specifically against travel to East Jerusalem, Bethelem, Jericho, border crossings at the King Hussein Bridge (Allenby), and along the Palestinian coast of the Dead Sea.
Foreign Minister Eide was most concerned about the prospects for another lengthy war in the Middle East, just as it’s emerging from the crises in Gaza and Israel. “It’s extremely unfortunate that (recent) negotiations between the US and Iran didn’t lead to a diplomatic solution to the conflict (over Iran’s alleged development of nuclear weapons),” Eide stated.
He noted, however, how the Iranian regime “has used extensive violence against its own people and supported terror groups in other countries.” He added that it remains “critically important to hinder” any opportunity for Iran to develop nuclear weapons.”
Eide went on to state that the attacks on Iran “are described by Israel as a preventative strike, but are not in line with the Rule of Law,” since that “demands an immediate imminent threat.” He urged restraint on both sides “and that they don’t give up on possibilities to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.”
Norway’s defense department, meanwhile, told TV2 on Saturday that all Norwegian military personnel stationed in the Middle East had been accounted for and were uninjured. “They’re following the procedures and necessary security measures that are continually evaluated and set into motion,” said Hanne Olafsen of the Norwegian military’s operative headquarters.
There were other reports of collateral damage and new threats as the day wore on, with four people in southern Syria killed by an Iranian missile attack and threats by an Iraqi militia that supports Iran against American military bases in the Middle East. Authorities in Lebanon refused to get involved in the war between Iran and the US-backed Israel, according to news bureau AFP but feared the Lebanese militia gbroup Hizbollah would. Israel had already attacked Hizbollah’ facilities in southern Lebanon.
Norway’s police security agency PST reported on Saturday that it saw no immediate threat to Norway, which has long been involved in Middle East peace efforts. “For the time being we don’t see any changes in the threat picture in Norway,” said PST spokesman Martin Bernsen, noting that security had already been sharpened around potential American-, Israeli- and Jewish targets in Norway.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
