As world leaders gathered in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly, UN Security Council member France called for an emergency meeting on the crisis engulfing the Middle East. Meanwhile, Israel announced dozens of new air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon Tuesday, a day after 492 people, including 35 children, were killed in the deadliest bombardment since a devastating war in 2006.
"I have requested that an emergency meeting of the Security Council be held on Lebanon this week," newly appointed French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, calling on all sides to "avoid a regional conflagration that would be devastating for everyone," especially civilians.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman said he was "gravely alarmed" and cautioned against "the possibility of transforming Lebanon (into) another Gaza."
"International challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them," he said ahead of the gathering in New York.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said that the escalating clashes between Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah threaten to plunge the Middle East into all-out war.
"We're seeing more military strikes, more damage, more collateral damage, more victims. I can say we are almost in a full-fledged war," Borrell said, adding "everybody has to put all their capacity to stop this".
His comments came after Lebanese authorities said Israeli airstrikes killed at least 492 people on Monday, including 35 children.
Procrastination
On Gaza, Borrell said "despite all the diplomatic capacity that we have deployed, nothing has been able to stop the war," accusing both sides of "procrastinating".
The war erupted after Hamas and other Palestinian militants launched the unprecedented 7 October attack on Israel, drawing in Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups.
Israel said on Monday it killed a "large number" of Hezbollah militants when it hit about 1,300 sites in southern and eastern Lebanon, including a "targeted strike" in Beirut.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was acting to change the "security balance" in the north.
Hezbollah early on Tuesday morning said it had launched several attacks on Israeli military targets, including an explosives factory 60 kilometres into Israel, with the "Fadi" series of rockets.
Devastating consequences
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the United Nations and world powers to deter what he called Israel's "plan that aims to destroy Lebanese villages and towns".
The United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon warned "any further escalation of this dangerous situation could have far-reaching and devastating consequences".
Qatar, a mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks, said Israel's bombardment of Lebanon "puts the region on the brink of the abyss", while Turkey said the strikes threatened "chaos" and Jordan urged an immediate end to the escalation "before it is too late".
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The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the strikes and ordered Palestinian medical staff in Lebanon to provide support for the wounded.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has called for an urgent meeting of Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Iran's newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, accused Israel of seeking "to create this wider conflict".
US focus on de-escalation
US President Joe Biden, who will address the assembly on Tuesday, said Washington was "working to de-escalate in a way that allows people to return home safely".
The Pentagon said it was sending a small number of additional US military personnel to the Middle East after thousands were deployed earlier alongside warships, fighter jets and air defence systems.
The US is Israel's main ally and weapons supplier.
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G7 foreign ministers said in a joint statement that "no country stands to gain" from escalating conflict, warning of "unimaginable consequences" if a regional war broke out.
More than 100 heads of state and government are scheduled to speak during the UN's centerpiece event, which will run until Monday.
On Tuesday, representatives of Turkey, Jordan, Qatar, Iran and Algeria are slated to take the podium to press for a Gaza ceasefire after nearly one year of war.
Ukraine will also be on the agenda Tuesday when President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a UN Security Council meeting on Russia's war on Ukraine.
(with AFP)
