'Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon': UN chief urges Israel-Lebanon to pull back from brink of war

New Delhi, Sept 26:  UN Secretary-General António Guterres made a pressing appeal to the Security Council, warning that "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon" and appealing Israel and Hezbollah to step back from the brink of a catastrophic regional war while speaking in a tense emergency session.

Secretary -General showcasing worrisome situation said that the near-daily exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israel Defence Forces was a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701, which emphasize Lebanon’s sovereignty and the need for disarmament of non-state actors. Guterres emphasized: “Lebanese sovereignty must be respected, and all this must stop.”

With more than 600 civilians already dead and as situation continues to remain dire, Guterres raised the alarm over the humanitarian crisis engulfing the region, with nearly 200,000 displaced within Lebanon.

He stressed the need for $170 million in aid to meet the urgent needs of the displaced. "We cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza," he warned, as he urged the Council to speak "in one clear voice: stop the killing and destruction."

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned Israel’s actions, accusing the country of blatant violations of Lebanese sovereignty, and targeting civilians. "We cannot bear to lose another generation because of the war," he stressed, calling for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts.

Similarly, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the weaponisation of communication devices used by Hezbollah and criticized the lack of a press statement from the Council due to US opposition. “Israel does not deserve membership in the UN,” he stated.

Israel’s representative countered these accusations, saying Hezbollah has a role in escalating the conflict, with nearly 9,000 rockets fired at Israeli civilians. He insisted that Israel's actions were in self-defence, pointing out Hezbollah’s intent to "murder, rape, and take hostages" if given the chance.

"No nation would sit idly by while its citizens are attacked," he argued, calling for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which demands the Lebanese army take control of its borders instead of Hezbollah.

Representatives from other countries shared in the urgency to de-escalate the conflict. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that Lebanon was nearing a "point of no return," while David Lammy, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, demanded that "air strikes must stop now. Talks must start now."

The United States highlighted its diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider conflict, with its representative noting that intense regional engagement is underway to "avert a broader war." However, Syria’s Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh criticised the U.S. for its "boundless support" for Israel, labelling it complicit in the ongoing aggression.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles urged the Council to focus on preventing southern Lebanon from becoming "another Gaza," avoiding the blame game and emphasizing the need for swift diplomatic action.

As violence escalates and the humanitarian crisis deepens, the call for a unified international response grows ever more pressing, with the world's eyes on whether the Security Council can bridge its deep divisions and stave off further devastation.