The United Nations has voiced deep concern over the escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon, where airstrikes have killed at least 500 people, including 21 children.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, highlighted that recent attacks on communication infrastructure and the intensifying exchange of rocket fire mark a dangerous escalation.
The rising violence has sparked fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, which could spill over into a broader regional conflict. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed that the victims included children, women, and medical personnel.
This comes after the Israeli military warned civilians to evacuate areas it said were being used by Hezbollah, which had launched rockets into northern Israel the day before.
“What we have long warned about—the regional spillover of the conflict—is now becoming a reality, driven by both actions and aggressive rhetoric from the involved parties,” Shamdasani said.
Following nearly a year of intermittent cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, these recent strikes represent the most significant escalation since Israel’s war on Gaza began.
Shamdasani reiterated the international community’s calls for de-escalation, warning that the current trajectory is heading toward more violence: “Instead of reducing tensions, we are seeing increased rhetoric and further plans for escalation.”
“This must stop,” she urged.
