UN Security Council Calls Emergency Meeting Amid Escalating Violence in Lebanon
The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday following a devastating escalation of violence in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have reportedly killed approximately 560 people within just two days. The meeting, requested by France, is set to take place at 18:00 local time (22:00 GMT) and will be attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized the dire situation, stating that the civilian population is facing the brunt of the conflict. "France calls on the parties and those who support them to stop the escalation and avoid a regional conflagration that would be devastating for everyone, starting with the civilian population," he remarked during his address at the United Nations in New York.
The violence, which has intensified significantly since Monday, marks one of the most severe confrontations between Lebanese Hezbollah and Israeli forces in recent years. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that over 558 martyrs and more than 1,835 wounded have been recorded due to the Israeli bombings, which have targeted southern and eastern regions of Lebanon.
The Israeli military has described the airstrikes as a **
