September 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday that “all hell is breaking loose in Lebanon,” where “hostilities have escalated dramatically,” especially this month, when the Israeli army has focused on the northern front, where it is facing the Lebanese Shiite militia party Hezbollah, with hundreds of bombings and the remote detonation of pagers and communication devices.
“This Monday was the bloodiest day in Lebanon in a generation. The Israel Defense Forces said it attacked some 1,600 Hezbollah targets. Many civilians were killed and many, many more were injured. Since then, Israel has continued its lethal attacks across Lebanon, including in the southern suburbs of Beirut,” he told the Security Council, which met in an emergency session.
Guterres urged the parties to “immediately return to a cessation of hostilities and take real measures to fully implement the UN resolutions” in order to respect international law, protect civilians and avoid attacking civilian infrastructure. “To all parties, let us say with one clear voice: stop the killing and destruction. Let us tone down the rhetoric and threats. Step back from the abyss,” he said.
“A total war must be avoided at all costs. It would undoubtedly be a total catastrophe. The people of Lebanon, as well as the people of Israel and the peoples of the world, cannot allow Lebanon to become another Gaza,” said the UN chief during his speech, in which he warned that “Lebanon is on the brink of the abyss” although “the Blue Line has been the scene of tensions for years” due to the increase “in scope, depth and intensity” of the exchanges of fire since October.
This situation has caused communities in northern Israel and southern Lebanon to flee: “They must be able to return to their homes and live in safety and security, without fear,” he added, before stressing that “diplomatic efforts have been intensified to achieve a temporary ceasefire that will allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and pave the way for the resumption of a more lasting peace.”
The head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Commander Aroldo Lazaro, has continued to maintain close contact with the parties, supporting humanitarian access wherever possible and continues to call for immediate de-escalation, Guterres said. “Despite the dangerous conditions, our peacekeepers remain in place,” he said.
However, the UN said that to mitigate the risk to personnel, most civilian staff have temporarily relocated north of the Litani River, while “a few” critical personnel remain in the mission’s area of operations alongside the UN peacekeepers.
More than 500 people were killed in the bombings on Monday and Tuesday, including children and women, although more than 1,200 have been killed since October. Two members of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees were also killed in a bombing this week. Israeli bombings have killed another 70 people today.
In this context, the Lebanese population has tried to flee the bombed areas, which is why the roads are congested as families “desperately” search for a safe place. “Many are stranded at Beirut airport,” he lamented. 90,000 people have fled from the south and east towards Beirut and the northwest, and 30,000 are in shelters.
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