UN Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced his deep concern over the “escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon”.
“I condemn the mounting civilian casualties, the distress & displacement caused by the evacuation orders, and the scenes of massive destruction and devastation,” he wrote on X.
Appealing for an “immediate cessation of hostilities”, Guterres called on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory.
“The Lebanese state must have the monopoly on the use of force. I urge all parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty & territorial integrity.”
