Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, warned on Monday that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon threatens to plunge the entire Middle East into “total war.”
Before participating in a meeting in New York with representatives from the G7 nations on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Borrell stated, “I can say that we are almost on the brink of a total war.”
He also mentioned, “The escalation in Lebanon is very serious and extremely concerning.” He added, “We are working to stop the escalation in Lebanon, but our worst expectations are turning into reality.” Borrell reiterated the call for a ceasefire along the Blue Line, the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon, acting as the de facto border.
Unbearable Price Like the situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the ongoing war for nearly a year between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas, Borrell condemned the fact that civilians in Lebanon “are paying an unbearable and unacceptable price.” He continued his warning, saying, “This is the right time to do something. Everyone must do everything they can to stop what is happening,” acknowledging the failure of diplomatic efforts so far to stop the war in Gaza.
In this context, a correspondent for “Al Arabiya/Al Hadath” reported that the Israeli security cabinet has not made additional decisions regarding operations in Lebanon.
The correspondent said, “The Israeli government’s assessment does not yet confirm the possibility of a total war in Lebanon.” “Setting the Entire Region Ablaze” The French Foreign Minister said that escalation along the Blue Line could lead to setting the entire region ablaze. Jean Noel Barro also said, “Strikes between Israel and Hezbollah must stop immediately.” “Unimaginable Regional Conflict” The G7 also considered that the escalation threatens to drag the Middle East into an unimaginable regional conflict. The group, comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, stated, “No country will benefit from continued escalation in the Middle East.” This came after hundreds of Israeli airstrikes on various areas in Lebanon on Monday resulted in 492 deaths, including 35 children, according to a new toll announced by Lebanese authorities, marking the most severe aerial bombardment ever targeting this country since the start of cross-border fire about a year ago related to the war in Gaza. This escalation coincides with the Israeli Defense Minister’s confirmation that the strikes will intensify and continue over the coming days. It also follows the conflict on the border between Israel and Hezbollah entering a new phase last week, following the explosion of thousands of wireless devices used by Hezbollah members, and the strike on a residential building in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where members of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force were meeting, resulting in about 59 deaths, including 16 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah has vowed a harsh response to this breach, which it described as harsh and unprecedented. Meanwhile, international, UN, and Arab warnings of a total war in the region have escalated.
