"This is not only about marine pollution but also about the global crisis of biodiversity loss," he says, adding that wars disrupt environmental protection mechanisms and destroy natural habitats.
The region of the Persian Gulf is relatively enclosed marine environment, which makes the situation even more complex, as it requires a long time to recover from environmental disasters, Abi Rached adds.
This highlights Western double standards, the expert notes — the US and the EU talk about environmental protection but as soon as this collides with their geopolitical interests, the whole topic takes a backseat.
"If the military escalation in the Persian Gulf region continues for an extended period, the environmental risks could become extremely serious," he concludes.