Lebanon has been dragged back into a state of turmoil and violence, the UNs top envoy in the country warned on Saturday, after the latest round of regional strikes triggered a fastescalating crisis along the Blue Line What had been fragile but real momentum, she said, has now collapsed in a matter of days
Military strikes and counter-strikes are continuing across the Middle East as the US and Israel wage war on Iran With the world economy at grave risk, the situation could spiral beyond anyones controlwarned UN chief Antnio GuterresIt is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations, he urged adding that the unlawful attacks by all sides are causing tremendous suffering for civilians across the whole Middle East region Follow our live coverage for updates and reaction from across the United Nations system app users can follow
Just a week ago, Lebanon had been in relatively good shape, Jeanine HennisPlasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said in apress statement
The armed forces were extending State authority, longpromised reforms were finally advancing, and preparations for legislative elections were underway A major World Bank loan was set to jumpstart reconstruction, and a warming diplomatic track with Syria was creating new areas for bilateral cooperation
Progress has halted overnight
Of course, things were not perfect, she said airstrikes, political infighting and institutional paralysis remained real constraints But t was progress Progress which has now come to a screeching halt
Since Mondays surge in violence Lebanon became involved in the expanding Middle Eastcrisison Monday after Hezbollah reportedly launched missiles at Israel families who had just returned home now find themselves, again, without a roof over their heads
Public sentiment, she added, has swung from disbelief to outrage, as evacuation orders widen and direct hits are on the rise
Hostilities must end
Ms HennisPlasschaert emphasized: continuing military action will not deliver a lasting win to anyone and will instead deepen instability She urged all sides to return to the framework of UNSecurity Councilresolution 1701, calling it the only internationally recognised basis for ending the cycles of violence affecting both Lebanese and Israeli civilians since 2006
As bad as things are today, they are set to get even worse, the Special Coordinator warned The choice is clear: stay on a path of death and destruction, or commit to restraint, engagement and dialogue
UN peacekeepers injured
Her warning came as the UN reported that three Ghanaian peacekeepers serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were injured on Friday inside their position in Al Qawzah amid heavy fire
UN SecretaryGeneral Antnio Guterrescondemnedthe incident and wished the peacekeepers a swift recovery, stressing that UN personnel and installations must be respected at all times, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, which also urged all parties to deescalate and fully ad to their obligations under resolution 1701
