BRUSSELS: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday warned Israel against any further military operations in Lebanon and stressed the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to the escalating conflict as world leaders urged against a ground invasion.
After emergency talks between EU foreign ministers to discuss the regional situation after the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Borrell said, “Arms should now be silenced, and the voice of diplomacy should speak and be heard by all.”
Borrell said that the sovereignty of both Israel and Lebanon must be respected and warned that any additional Israeli military intervention would significantly worsen the situation.
The international community is increasingly alarmed by the potential for the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to spiral into a larger war. Despite the killing of Nasrallah on Friday, Israel has signaled its intent to continue military operations, asserting that the battle against Hezbollah is far from over.
Meanwhile, world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have voiced opposition to a ground Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Borrell noted that the European Union is prepared to enhance its support for the Lebanese armed forces and could assist UN peacekeepers in their efforts to restore calm.
However, he acknowledged that the 27-nation bloc has struggled to present a unified front or exert significant influence in mitigating the violence that has plagued the region over the past year.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian impact is becoming increasingly severe. Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency, reported that “well over 200,000 people are displaced inside Lebanon,” with more than 100,000 seeking refuge in neighboring Syria.
