UN chief warns Israeli attacks on Lebanon are destabilising region

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon, warning that the situation threatens the entire region. He noted that the death toll in Lebanon has already surpassed that of the 2006 Israeli war.

"Attacks, including on civilians, are threatening the entire region. Large-scale Israeli strikes deep into Lebanon, including Beirut, have killed more than 2,000 people over the last year, with 1,500 of those deaths occurring in just the past two weeks," Guterres said.

According to Lebanese authorities, over one million people have been displaced, and 300,000 have fled to Syria.

Guterres emphasised that the conflict is "getting worse by the hour", with the UN’s warnings about the consequences of escalation being realised. "Every air strike, every missile launch, every rocket fired pushes peace further out of reach and worsens the suffering of millions of civilians caught in the middle," he said.

He reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon, the unconditional release of hostages, and urgent humanitarian aid for those in need. Guterres also renewed his call for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, saying, "All people in the region deserve to live in peace."