Beirut: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the massive strikes launched by Israel on Lebanon, which resulted in hundreds of civilians being killed and injured, including children.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Secretary-General expressed grave concerns over the ongoing military activity in Lebanon, stating it poses a significant risk to the ceasefire and efforts towards lasting peace in the region. In a statement issued on Thursday, Guterres reiterated his call for all parties to immediately cease hostilities.
Guterres emphasized the importance of respecting international law, including international humanitarian law, and the protection of civilians and civilian objects. He stressed that any attacks targeting civilians are unacceptable.
The Secretary-General highlighted that there is no military solution to the conflict and urged all sides to use diplomatic channels and recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.
Lebanon experienced its most intense Israeli attacks since March 2, with strikes targeting the capital Beirut and areas in the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon. This escalation occurred just hours after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire as a step towards ending the war.