The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanon pose a “grave risk” to the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
“The ongoing military activity in Lebanon poses a grave risk to the ceasefire and efforts toward lasting peace. All parties must immediately cease hostilities,” his spokesperson said in a statement.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 182 people were killed and 890 injured in Israeli strikes on Wednesday, with the capital Beirut witnessing the heaviest bombardment since the conflict began.
Lebanon became involved in the war after the Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in response to the US-Israel war against Iran.
Although Iran and the United States agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, Israel has said Lebanon is not part of the truce.
Hezbollah confirmed firing rockets toward Israel, while Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also signaled potential escalation.
The UN chief strongly condemned the loss of civilian lives and expressed deep concern over the rising toll.
“There is no military solution to the conflict. All sides must turn to diplomacy,” the statement added.
The International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN human rights office also condemned the scale of destruction, with UN rights chief Volker Turk calling the situation “nothing short of horrific.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also urged that Lebanon be included in the ceasefire efforts.