File Photo: Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Photo courtesy of UN website.
"We do not want any ground invasion to happen," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
"We all know the devastation that a full-scale war and ground war in Lebanon would bring to the people of Israel and Lebanon," he added, following US media reports that such an invasion could begin within hours.
Some 10,000 UN troops are stationed along the border between the two countries and in southern Lebanon as part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission.
They remain in their positions, Dujarric said, but their freedom of movement is restricted by ongoing shelling from both sides and they are unable to do their job of monitoring the ceasefire that is already in place.
Meanwhile, European Union (EU) foreign ministers concluded their emergency online meeting on Monday to discuss the deteriorating situation in Lebanon with a call for calm and respect for international humanitarian law.
“Any further military intervention would significantly worsen the situation and must be avoided,” EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said via video link.
“The EU reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel,” he added.
“The voice of diplomacy must be heard and heard by all,” Borrell said.
Short link: