GENEVA — The United Nations issued a strong warning to Israel on Tuesday against escalating its ground operations in Lebanon, following the Israeli military’s recent ground assault.
Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN rights office, expressed concerns over the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah, saying, “The consequences for civilians have already been dire.” She further warned, “We fear that a large-scale ground invasion by Israel into Lebanon would only deepen the suffering.”
Israeli forces were engaged in intense clashes inside Lebanon after launching the ground offensive earlier on Tuesday, following a week of deadly airstrikes.
Throssell highlighted that prior to the ground assault, Israel’s intensified strikes had already led to the deaths of over 1,000 people in Lebanon within two weeks, forcing nearly a million people to flee their homes, according to Lebanese authorities.
In recent days, Israel has broadened its attacks to target Hezbollah in Lebanon, alongside ongoing operations in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah has launched intermittent strikes on Israeli forces since October 7, when Hamas carried out a significant attack on Israel.
Israel’s retaliatory actions against Gaza have caused widespread destruction, with tens of thousands of casualties. Throssell added that even before this escalation, “tens of thousands of homes across Lebanon had been damaged or destroyed” due to Israel’s response to Hezbollah.
“Medical facilities have been hit, with 10 percent of health centers in Lebanon now closed,” she noted. Reports indicate that since October 2023, 41 medical personnel have been killed, with 111 others injured, including 14 fatalities in the last two days alone.
Despite international calls for restraint, Israel continues to target key areas including southern Beirut, Damascus, and Gaza. Throssell warned, “We are deeply alarmed by the growing hostilities in the Middle East and the real potential for this conflict to engulf the entire region, leading to a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe.”