The UN is alarmed by the escalation of violence observed since Sunday (7) in the conflict involving Israel and Lebanon, including new attacks in the suburbs of the Lebanese capital and Hezbollah fire against northern Israel. The deputy spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, declared this Monday (8) that all actors must exercise “maximum restraint” and refrain from any action that could “further inflame an already volatile situation”.
Aggressions between Israel and Iran
He urged all parties to fully respect the ceasefire jointly announced by Lebanon, Israel, and the United States last week. According to UN News, the conflict in the Middle East, ongoing since February, is also marked by increased tensions between Israel and Iran. According to news agencies, Israel struck a petrochemical facility in southwestern Iran, in addition to carrying out attacks against military targets in other locations. The offensive occurred even after US President Donald Trump reportedly instructed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from further attacks. On Sunday, Israeli officials stated that Iran fired missiles at the country, the first such bombardment since the ceasefire came into effect in early April. The Bahraini government reported on Saturday that Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones at the country and Kuwait. The Foreign Ministry stated that the devices were intercepted and urged Iran to immediately cease attacks against its Gulf neighbors.
Unifil reports
Farhan Haq called for an end to any actions in the region that could compromise ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace. Over the weekend, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) observed a high level of military activity throughout its area of operations, including 201 violations of Lebanese airspace by the Israeli Defense Forces, involving helicopters and fighter jets. Dozens of north-south projectile trajectories, presumably fired by Hezbollah, were also recorded, including several that crossed the Blue Line, the buffer zone separating the two countries. Peacekeepers continue to be directly affected by the confrontation. On Friday, a drone launched a grenade near a UNIFIL convoy close to Bayt Yahun in the Western Sector. Subsequently, another drone launched a second grenade near the peacekeepers. In response, peacekeepers acted in self-defense and shot down one of the drones.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.