Middle East: UN Secretary-General “very concerned” about dramatic escalation in Beirut

“This cycle of violence must stop now and all parties must step back from the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the entire region cannot withstand an all-out war,” added Stéphane Dujarric, in the note, cited by the agency France-Presse.

According to Dujarric, Guterres called for full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 on Lebanon, approved in 2006, with the “immediate return to the cessation of hostilities”.

The UN Secretary-General “also reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages”, he said.

Israel and the Hezbollah movement have been exchanging fire on the Israeli-Lebanese border since the start of the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip 11 months ago, launched after an attack by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas.

The escalation of violence has led thousands of people to leave Lebanon.