Lebanon-based officials are sounding the alarm over a possible escalation of the war as fighting between Hezbollah and Israel intensifies.
Two United Nations officials based in Lebanon have warned that there is a “very real” threat of miscalculations that could lead to a wider war as cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel rages.
The warning came on Saturday from the UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the head of UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, Aroldo Lazaro.
In a statement, they said they were “deeply concerned” by recent clashes along Lebanon’s southern border.
“The danger of miscalculations leading to a sudden, broader conflict is very real,” the two officials said.
They urged “all actors to cease fire and commit to working towards a political and diplomatic solution.”
Joint declaration of @JeanineHennis And @aroldo_lazaro:
As communities in Lebanon and around the world celebrate Eid Al-Adha, the United Nations family reiterates its call to all actors along the Blue Line to lay down their arms and embark on the path to peace. peace.
– UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) June 15, 2024
Earlier this week, Hezbollah launched the largest volley of rockets and drones towards Israel since the start of the war on Gaza on October 7. This came as Israel intensified its attacks on Hezbollah commanders and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Increased fighting
For eight months, Hezbollah has promised to continue its attacks against northern Israel to distance Israeli forces from the war in Gaza. Despite ups and downs at different times, cross-border attacks have remained persistent.
But the recent upsurge in fighting has raised fears that violence could spill over. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to restore security along the border “one way or another.”
Far-right ministers in his cabinet went further, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for outright war and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for a ground invasion.
On Tuesday, a strike in the southern Lebanese village of Jouaiya killed field commander Taleb Abdallah, considered the most senior member of Hezbollah to die during the eight months of hostilities.
The next day, Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah official, said the group would “increase the intensity, strength, quantity and quality of our attacks.”
The build-up continued into Saturday, with Hezbollah claiming to have targeted the Meron base in northern Israel with “guided missiles” and sent “attack drones” to another Israeli base .
The Israeli army, meanwhile, said its “plane struck a Hezbollah terrorist” in the Aitaroun region of southern Lebanon. Separately, he also said the artillery was fired “to eliminate a threat.”
The fighting comes as the United States and France work toward a negotiated settlement. On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would not join the trilateral framework proposed by France.
