New Delhi, March 30 -- Arab foreign ministers on Sunday appointed veteran Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy as the head of the 22-member Arab League, at a time the Middle East is plunged in a monthlong Iran war that shows no sign of abating.

Fahmy, a former Egyptian foreign minister, won the support of the Arab foreign ministers in a virtual meeting, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Fahmy's five-year term will start in July, succeeding Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who served as Arab League chief since 2016.

His appointment came as Iran's Arab neighbors are reeling from attacks by Iran and its proxies in response to massive airstrikes launched by the U.S. and Israel since Feb. 28.

Fahmy was the only nominee for the post, as it is a long-h...