Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, east of Beirut.
UN chief says “diplomatic avenues” available to stop war in Lebanon
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- While reports suggest ‘Israel’ is planning a massive ground invasion to seize all territory south of the Litani River, Hezbollah confirmed "direct clashes" with ‘Israeli’ forces currently operating in the border town of Khiam.
- UN Chief António Guterres launched a $325 million emergency appeal in Beirut as the death toll reached 826 (including 106 children), warning that there is "no military solution" despite ‘Israel's’ escalating ground and air campaign.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday on a visit to Beirut that diplomatic channels remained open to end the war between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah and urged the international community to support Lebanon.
Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked ‘Israel’ in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-‘Israeli’ strikes, and the Tehran-backed group's leader has said they were ready for a long confrontation with ‘Israel’.
On Saturday, ‘Israel’ kept up strikes on Lebanon as Hezbollah claimed attacks against northern ‘Israel’ and Beirut said the death toll in the country since March 2 had climbed to 826, including 106 children.
US news site Axios reported on Saturday that ‘Israel’ was planning a major ground invasion of Lebanon "aiming to seize the entire area south of the Litani River", citing US and ‘Israeli’ officials.
The area, covering hundreds of square miles, is already subject to ‘Israeli’ evacuation warnings.
‘Israel’ has already sent some ground forces into Lebanon and late on Saturday Hezbollah said it was engaged in ongoing "direct clashes" with ‘Israeli’ forces in Khiam.
Guterres, however, insisted "there is no military solution, only diplomacy" and dialogue.
The UN chief arrived in Beirut on Friday for what he called a solidarity visit, and launched a $325 million humanitarian appeal to support Lebanon as it responds to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people amid sweeping ‘Israeli’ army evacuation orders.
Guterres urged the international community to "step up your engagement, empower the Lebanese state" and support the army, which has committed to disarming Hezbollah.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that Ankara feared ‘Israel’ could commit "genocide" in Lebanon and called for the international community to intervene.
Turkey has been fiercely critical of ‘Israel’ since the start of the Gaza war.
