The UN calls for an end to the violence between Israel and Hezbollah

2024-04-08 13:43:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The UN calls for an end to the violence between Israel and Hezbollah

The war in Lebanon

The United Nations called today for an end to the violence between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, which has escalated in the past six months since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip, underscoring fears of an escalation and calling for space for diplomacy.

Since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas on October 7, there have been almost daily exchanges of fire between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, which says it is acting in support of the Palestinian organization.

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joana Vroneka and the head of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Aroldos Latharo said that "For six months, the exchange of fire has continued without interruption on one side and on the other side of the blue line "

The violence and suffering have gone on too long. They must stop," the two officials said in a joint statement, calling on all parties "to use every means to avoid further escalation now that there is still room." for diplomacy."

The Israeli army announced yesterday that it has completed a "new phase" in the preparation of the "war" on the country's border with Lebanon.

"The progressive expansion of the scope and scale of conflicts significantly increases the risk of misjudgments and further deterioration of an already alarming situation," UN officials warned.

More than 10,000 UNIFIL troops have been deployed along the UN-defined Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, but have been unable to stem the violence.

Hezbollah has increased its attacks on Israeli positions across the border, and the Israeli military is responding with strikes targeting positions deeper and deeper into Lebanese soil, as well as Lebanese movement figures.

At least 363 people, mostly Hezbollah fighters, but also at least 70 civilians have been killed in Lebanon. 18 people were killed in Israel, ten soldiers and eight civilians.

UN officials assessed that it is "critical" to have a political solution based on the "full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701".

The decision ended the 2006 war with Hezbollah, and stipulates that only the Lebanese army and UNIFIL can be deployed in southern Lebanon.