The outside world watches with horror the escalation of large-scale attacks between Israel and Hezbollah.
– What worries me is the risk of Lebanon turning into a new Gaza, says UN chief António Guterres at the General Assembly meeting in New York.
As recently as Sunday, Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of the Iran-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah, stressed that the militia had entered a “new phase” in its fighting with Israel, which he called an “open showdown.”
– We are ready for all military possibilities, he says.
The statement was made in connection with a memorial service for a senior Hezbollah member who was killed in an Israeli attack on Beirut on Friday.
The warnings do not only come from the UN Secretary General, also the UK and the EU emphasize their concern.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy addresses the “worrying escalation” and fears of full-scale war.
– Our message to all parties is clear. We need an immediate ceasefire from both sides so that we can reach a political settlement, so that Israelis and Lebanese civilians can return to their homes and live in peace and security, he said in a speech during a Labor conference.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell also demands an “urgent ceasefire”.
“The European Union is extremely concerned about an escalation in Lebanon following the attacks in Beirut last Friday,” he said in a statement.