Janine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and General Aroldo Lazaro, commander of the UN peacekeeping force, have urgently called for maximum restraint along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
This appeal follows a deadly missile attack on a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which resulted in the death of 12 people, including children.
In a joint statement, the officials condemned the attack, stating, “We denounce the killing of civilians, including young children and teenagers, in Majdal Shams.
Civilians must be protected at all times.” They urged an end to the ongoing intense and continuous exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, warning that the escalating conflict could plunge the entire region into an unimaginable disaster.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Office of the Special Coordinator are actively engaging with both Lebanon and Israel to contain the situation, as reported by Reuters.
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, also condemned the attack, describing it as a “bloodbath” in a post on the X platform.
“Shocking images from the soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams. I strongly condemn this bloodbath,” Borrell stated, emphasizing the need for an independent international investigation into this unacceptable incident. He concluded his post by urging all parties to practice maximum restraint and avoid further escalation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Saturday that Hezbollah would pay a heavy price for its rocket attack on Majdal Shams.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the attack, which resulted in the highest number of casualties in Israel or its annexed territories since the conflict in Gaza began on October 7 last year.
