World leaders are sounding the alarm over a “full-blown” conflict and calling for de-escalation after devastating Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon heightened regional tensions amid Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The assaults, which started on Monday and continued into Tuesday, had been Israel’s fiercest towards its northern neighbor and brought on the very best demise toll in a single day in Lebanon for the reason that finish of the 1975-90 civil conflict.
Lebanon’s well being ministry stated Monday’s assaults killed 492 individuals, together with 35 kids and 58 girls. Greater than 1,600 individuals had been wounded within the assaults that hit civilian areas throughout the nation as tens of hundreds of individuals had been pressured to flee southern areas.
Under are some reactions:
United Nations
Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres stated he was “deeply alarmed by the escalation of the scenario alongside the Blue Line,” referring to the demarcation line dividing Lebanon from Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, in addition to “the big variety of civilian casualties.”
His spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, stated the UN chief additionally “expresses grave concern for the security of civilians, each in southern Lebanon and northern Israel, in addition to UN employees in these areas.”
UNICEF Director Catherine Russell highlighted the “harmful escalation” that threatens “numerous” kids.
There have additionally been “alarming ranges of psychological misery” amongst kids because of displacement and the barrage of bombings and airstrikes, he stated, calling for a right away de-escalation.
Iran
Iran, an ally of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which Israel says it’s concentrating on, accused Israel of attempting to attract it right into a battle that will have “irreversible penalties.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian stated: “We wish to reside in peace, we are not looking for conflict,” including: “It’s Israel that seeks to create this all-out battle.”
“We all know greater than anybody that if a serious conflict had been to interrupt out within the Center East, it might not profit anybody on the planet,” he stated.
In an interview with CNN, the president stated: “We should not permit Lebanon to turn into one other Gaza within the fingers of Israel.”
“Hezbollah can not stand alone towards a rustic that’s being defended, supported and provided by Western international locations, European international locations and america of America,” he informed the broadcaster.
The International Ministry known as Israel’s strikes “mindless” and stated they’d have “harmful penalties.”
Jordan
International Minister Ayman Safadi known as for a worldwide response to de-escalate the battle and accused Israel of “aggression.”
“We underline the pressing want for [UN] “The Safety Council should take fast measures to cease Israeli aggression.”
Egypt
The International Ministry has known as on the UN Safety Council to intervene and denounced any “violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
Egypt, which is a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, has repeatedly warned towards a regional escalation that it says “threatens to pull the area right into a complete regional conflict.”
Expressing its “solidarity” with Lebanon, Egypt stated it “continues its efforts to attain a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Qatar
The International Ministry condemned the Israeli aggression “within the strongest phrases.”
“[The] “The continued escalation is primarily as a result of absence of any deterrent to Israel’s actions, its continued and repeated violations of worldwide legislation and its continued impunity,” it stated in a press release.
“This actuality exacerbates the crises, places the area on the point of the abyss and exposes it to additional tensions that can have a profound affect on the regional and worldwide stage,” he added.
Saudi Arabia
The International Ministry stated it was following developments in Lebanon with “nice concern” and urged “all events to train most restraint.”
He careworn the “significance of respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty” and known as on the worldwide neighborhood to play a task in decreasing rigidity within the area.
United Arab Emirates
The Gulf nation expressed “deep concern” and reiterated its stance towards “violence, escalation, uncalculated actions and reactions that ignore the legal guidelines governing state relations and sovereignty,” state media reported.
USA
The US, which has despatched Israel billions of {dollars} value of arms for the reason that Gaza conflict erupted whereas pushing a tense mediation marketing campaign between Israel and Hezbollah, remains to be holding out hope that the 2 sides can transfer again from the brink of conflict.
“My staff is in fixed contact with their counterparts, and we’re working to de-escalate in a approach that permits individuals to return residence safely,” stated President Joe Biden, who met with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the White Home.
Whereas the Pentagon stated america is sending further troops to the Center East in response to developments in Lebanon, spokesman Patrick Ryder didn’t specify the power of the extra forces being deployed or their particular activity.
The US has round 40,000 troops within the area.
“In gentle of the growing tensions within the Center East and out of an abundance of warning, we’re sending a small variety of further U.S. navy personnel to strengthen our forces already within the area. However for operational safety causes, I cannot remark or present particulars,” Ryder stated.
Group of Seven
The G7 known as for “ending the present harmful cycle” that would catapult “your entire Center East right into a broader regional battle with unimaginable penalties.”
“Actions and counter-actions threat magnifying this harmful spiral of violence,” stated a press release from the G7, which incorporates Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and america.
United Kingdom
International Secretary David Lammy stated he was “deeply alarmed” by continued airstrikes in Lebanon and Israel.
“Additional escalation might have much more devastating penalties. I reiterate my name for a right away ceasefire by each side,” he posted on social media platform X.
European Union
International coverage official Josep Borrell warned that “we’re virtually in a full-blown conflict” and known as for max efforts to de-escalate the scenario through the UN Normal Meeting in New York.
Pointing to the rising variety of civilian casualties and the depth of Israeli assaults, he stated: “If this isn’t a conflict scenario, I don’t know what you’ll name it.”
“Right here in New York, it’s time to do it. Everybody should put all their capability to cease this path to conflict,” he added.
Greece
The nation, which was elected to the UN Safety Council for 2025-26 earlier this yr, stated the escalation confirmed collective worldwide failure.
“We’ve not prevented contagion, and the extra widespread the conflict turns into, the extra difficult the scenario turns into to resolve,” International Minister George Gerapetritis informed Reuters information company.
“Lebanon might simply turn into a zone of great hostility and that’s one thing we can not afford. It’s a clear minefield.”
France
France stated assaults on each side of the border ought to “finish instantly” and known as for an emergency assembly of the UN Safety Council to deal with the battle.
“I’m considering of the Lebanese individuals, as Israeli strikes have simply killed lots of of civilians, together with dozens of kids,” stated International Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “These assaults, carried out on each side of the Blue Line and within the wider area, should finish instantly.”
Belgium
Deputy Prime Minister Petra de Sutter stated she was “shocked” by the variety of victims of Israel’s assaults on Lebanon.
“492 lives had been misplaced in Lebanon. Greater than 1,600 individuals had been injured. Tens of hundreds had been ordered to flee their properties. In sooner or later,” he wrote in X.
“This horrendous assault by Israel is not going to result in any answer for the area. Solely diplomacy will permit residents to return residence safely. Solely a ceasefire will finish the struggling,” he added.
Porcelain
International Minister Wang Yi stated China firmly helps Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty and strongly condemned Israel’s assaults.
“We pay shut consideration to developments within the area, particularly the latest explosion of communications tools in Lebanon, and firmly oppose indiscriminate assaults on civilians,” Wang informed his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib, in response to the International Ministry.
Wang stated China would stand “on the facet of justice and on the facet of Arab brothers, together with Lebanon,” in response to the assertion.
Russia
The Kremlin stated the escalation of the battle between Israel and Hezbollah dangers destabilizing the area.
“That is, in fact, a probably very harmful growth” that dangers widening the battle zone and inflicting “complete destabilization of the area,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters.
Democracy for the Arab world now
The US-based nonprofit stated Israel’s actions present “that it needs a broad regional conflict, not simply within the occupied Palestinian territory, but in addition in Lebanon and Iran.”
“The one strategy to cease their unbridled belligerence is to cease rewarding them with increasingly American weapons,” stated Raed Jarrar, DAWN’s advocacy director.
“With out stopping Israel’s assaults within the area, there will likely be no path to peace, and the results will resonate far past Lebanon’s borders.”
Save the kids
The UK-based group highlighted the affect of the battle on kids, who’re pressured to flee their cities and villages with their households.
“We’re seeing assaults in dozens of cities, households desperately attempting to flee with what they’ll carry, kids crying, terrified by the sound of drones and fighter jets,” stated nation director Jennifer Moorehead, noting that round 1.5 million kids are out of college due to the battle.