UN Chief Warns: Lebanon Cannot Become Another Gaza

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern on Friday over the rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. He noted that UN peacekeepers are actively working to defuse the situation and prevent any missteps, according to a report by Reuters.

“One rash move – one miscalculation – could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination,” Guterres told reporters, adding, “Let’s be clear: The people of the region and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.”

In response to the Gaza conflict that erupted in October, Hezbollah has been launching rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas. This aggression has forced tens of thousands of Israelis in the north to evacuate their homes.

Israel has retaliated by targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, and there are growing concerns about the potential for further escalation.

Earlier this week, Major General Ori Gordin, head of the IDF’s Northern Command, and Major General Oded Basiuk, head of the Operations Directorate, conducted a situation assessment. During this meeting, operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon were reviewed and approved.

Subsequently, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech in Lebanon, issuing a threat to Israel.

“The Lebanon front prevented enemy forces from participating in Gaza, some of which were elite forces because the enemy fears that the resistance (Hezbollah) will invade the Galilee, which remains on the table if a confrontation develops,” Nasrallah threatened.

The UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, along with unarmed technical observers known as UNTSO, have been stationed in southern Lebanon for a long time to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, known as the Blue Line.

“UN peacekeepers are on the ground working to de-escalate tensions and help prevent miscalculation,” Guterres said on Friday.

“The world must say loudly and clearly: immediate de-escalation is not only possible – it is essential,” he added. “There is no military solution.”

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has been in place since 1978, serves as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel and operates near the border. It works to implement Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

UNIFIL peacekeepers have faced attacks several times over the years, prompting the UN’s mission in Lebanon to call on the country’s military to ensure the safety of its peacekeepers.

{Matzav.com Israel}