Watch: ‘We Are Extremely Worried’ – Metsola Reiterates Calls For De-Escalation Of Lebanon-Israel Conflict
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola commented on the recently escalated Israel-Lebanon conflict, reiterating a joint call for the attacks to “stop” during an interview following the opening of the UN’s 79th General Assembly.
“This incursion is precisely what we were hoping would not happen,” Metsola told CNN last night after she was asked whether this could be the beginning of another war.
She reiterated the UN’s “joint call” for the conflict to stop and for “innocent civilians not to die”.
Metsola went on to say that a two-state solution – which leaders attribute as the only means for citizens to be able to live “in safety and in peace” – is becoming a far less likely reality.
“We are extremely worried about this conflict, and it could really continue to escalate.”
Israeli air strikes have claimed the lives of at least 569 people in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
An escalation in the conflict between paramilitary group Hezbollah and Israel has condemned Lebanon to days of merciless bombings. The group attempted to attack Tel Aviv earlier today but the missile was intercepted by Israel’s advanced technology.
Hezbollah and Israel have been in conflict for decades – but the two have ramped up their cross-border attacks on each other since 7th October following Palestinian militant group Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel.
Hezbollah is part of a Tehran-led alliance spanning Yemen, Syria, Gaza, and Iraq that has attacked Israel and its allies since the war with Hamas began. The group has said it will continue striking Israeli targets as long as the bombardment of Gaza goes on.
Monday marked the most recent and intense escalation with 500 people killed in southern Lebanon – roughly half the number of Lebanese killed throughout the entire 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Since then, the Lebanese militant group fired projectiles deeper into Israeli territory than has previously been seen and Israel fired hundreds of projectiles into southern Lebanon.
These escalations have increased global concerns of a bubbling war in the region.
The UN’s General Assembly opened yesterday morning. US President Joe Biden acknowledged the escalation in an address to the assembly and said that a “diplomatic solution is still possible”.
Lebanon’s foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib criticised Biden’s address as not strong enough, referring to the super power as the only nation that can make a difference.
Featured image: screenshot of CNN interview.
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