U.N. Chief Warns of Potential "Lebanon Gaza" Situation
Tensions in the Middle East are running high - and it's crucial to prevent a potential war from igniting. That's according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. A single mistake could lead us straight to the next disaster.
Guterres issued a warning about a potential conflict brewing between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. "The people in this region and those worldwide simply can't afford to see Lebanon become another Gaza," Guterres said to a group of journalists in New York.
Referencing the increasingly aggressive language from both sides, Guterres stressed the very real risk of an expansion of the conflict in the Middle East. "We need to avoid this escalation at all costs," he warned. "An overreaction, a miscalculation could spark a calamity that transcends borders and our wildest imaginations," he added.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been raging for over eight months now. With Hezbollah, Lebanon's pro-Iranian militia and ally of Hamas, firing rockets and drones at Israel, thousands of Israelis have already been forced to flee their homes. Recently, the north of Israel has been subjected to intensified siege. In response, the Israeli military has stepped up its attacks on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
On Tuesday, Israel's military leadership also announced a deployment plan for a potential invasion of Lebanon. Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz made threats towards Hezbollah, stating they would be destroyed in a "full-scale war."
Hezbollah has ties with Hamas in Gaza, but their power is significantly greater. Israel intends to force Hezbollah back behind the 30-kilometer border of the Litani River, as specified in UN Resolution 1701. "The parties must immediately return to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in full and switch to a ceasefire," demanded UN Secretary-General Guterres.
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Guterres expressed concern about the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, fearing that it could lead to another situation like the long-lasting conflict in the Gaza Strip. His warning came as Israel's military announced a deployment plan for a potential invasion of Lebanon, with Israel's Foreign Minister threatening to destroy Hezbollah in a full-scale war. Guterres urged both sides to adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the parties to return to implementing the resolution in full and switch to a ceasefire.
