UN officials in Lebanon urge Israel border de-escalation

United Nations officials say six months of violence on the Israel-Lebanon border “must stop,” urging de-escalation “while there is still space for diplomacy.”

“It is six months since the exchanges of fire across the Blue Line began, and continue unabated, taking a heavy toll on both sides,” says a joint statement from UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, and Aroldo Lazaro, head of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

“The violence and suffering has gone on too long. It must stop,” the officials say.

They urge all sides to “avail of all avenues to avoid further escalation while there is still space for diplomacy.”

“The gradual expansion in the scope and scale of the confrontations… significantly raises the risk of miscalculation and further deterioration of an already alarming situation,” the UN officials warn.