UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned world leaders on Tuesday that Lebanon is teetering on the edge as clashes between Israel and Hezbollah escalate. This warning came as global attention shifted towards Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have reportedly killed 558 people, including 50 children, according to Lebanese authorities.
“We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink,” Guterres said during the UN General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders in New York. The rising tensions in Lebanon have drawn focus away from Gaza, where efforts to secure a ceasefire following Israel’s prolonged military campaign have stalled.
In response to the crisis, France, a UN Security Council member, has called for an emergency meeting to address the growing violence in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, issued a stark warning, stating, “We are almost in a full-fledged war.”
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, continues to caution against a full-scale ground invasion of Lebanon, with a senior US official expected to present proposals for de-escalation at the UN later this week.
As the situation in Lebanon spirals, Guterres expressed fears of the country becoming another Gaza and urged swift action to prevent further destruction. The international community remains deeply divided, with over 100 heads of state and government scheduled to speak at the UN this week, pressing for solutions to the ongoing crises in both Lebanon and Gaza.
