BRUSSELS, July 13 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana said Thursday that he is traveling to the Middle East to help ease escalating tension in the region.

    "I follow with the utmost concern the situation in the Middle East," said Solana in a short statement on Thursday.

    "I am in permanent contact with the different parties and with the Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan. Following these contacts, I envisage going to the region."

    However, he did not say when exactly he would set off.

    Solana was in London on Thursday for talks with British officials, including Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett. Violence in the Middle East was one of the topics of the talks.

    Israel launched an air strike in Lebanon in retaliation for the killing and capture of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah.

    The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, was questioned on Thursday why it has condemned the "kidnapping" of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, but not the killing of civilians by Israeli forces in Lebanon.

    A spokesperson sidestepped the questions and said formal statements will be made by the decision-making Council of the EU and at a foreign ministers' meeting next week.

    "The commissioner is very alarmed at the escalation of violence between Lebanon and Israel," said the spokesperson, in reference to EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Enditem