September 23 (EUROPA PRESS) –
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the deaths caused by the wave of Israeli bombings in Lebanon, in which at least 356 people have died and more than 1,200 have been injured, according to the latest official report from the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Guterres “is gravely alarmed by the escalation at the Blue Line and the high number of civilian casualties, including children and women, reported by the Lebanese authorities,” said Guterres’ official spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric.
The UN chief also stressed that there are “thousands of people displaced” in “the most intensified Israeli bombing campaign since October.” “The Secretary-General is also seriously concerned by Hezbollah’s continued attacks against Israel,” he added.
Guterres has expressed “grave concern” for the safety of civilians on both sides of the border, including UN staff, and “strongly condemns the loss of life.”
Guterres highlighted the work of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in trying to “reduce tension” and called for “an immediate de-escalation” to achieve “a diplomatic solution.”
“The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and ensure that they are not at risk of harm” and “reminds all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety of all UN personnel and assets” in compliance with the terms of Security Council resolution 1701.
At least 356 people have been killed and more than 1,200 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Monday in eastern and southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The Lebanese Shiite militia-party fired more than 150 rockets in retaliation, some of them with sufficient range to hit Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
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