The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on Thursday in response to a disturbing incident involving Israeli forces and UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. Earlier that day, Israeli troops fired upon members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), resulting in two peacekeepers sustaining injuries, according to a statement released by UNIFIL.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in the region. \"The conflict in Lebanon, coupled with intensified strikes in Syria and the raging violence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, points to a region dangerously teetering on the brink of an all-out war,\" she stated.
Recent clashes between Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces, along with Israel's ground operations in Lebanon, have exacerbated the humanitarian situation. DiCarlo highlighted that these developments have created a \"humanitarian emergency,\" underscoring the urgent need for international intervention.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, warned about the dire conditions in southern Lebanon. He noted that intense air bombardments and ground operations by Israel have rendered much of southern Lebanon uninhabitable, posing significant risks to the safety and security of peacekeepers stationed there.
Lebanon's representative to the UN condemned the Israeli actions, accusing Israel of violating the UN Charter and Resolution 1701. He called upon the Security Council to strongly condemn the attack and adopt measures to halt further aggression.
In response, Israel's delegate affirmed the continuation of its operations, emphasizing the goal of degrading Hezbollah's capabilities and dismantling what it describes as a \"terror network\" in southern Lebanon.
The situation remained tense as Lebanon's Foreign Ministry reported a renewed attack on Friday, further complicating the fragile stability in the region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the international community's concerns, warning Israel against repeating the "intolerable" incident that harmed UN peacekeeping forces.
Guterres emphasized the widespread solidarity with the wounded peacekeepers and firmly stated that such actions are unacceptable and must not recur.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
