Lebanese FM condemns Israeli military actions, urges int’l intervention

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib condemned on Thursday Israel’s recent military actions along the Lebanese-Israeli border and called for urgent international intervention to prevent the situation from escalating.
“We are facing a crisis that threatens Lebanon’s very existence. The future of our people and our prosperity is imperiled,” said Bou Habib when addressing the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
“This is a situation that requires international intervention on an urgent basis before the situation spirals out of control… which will transform into a black hole that will engulf regional, international peace and security,” he said.
Bou Habib condemned Israel’s recent military actions, accusing it of escalating the conflict. “One of the gravest challenges Lebanon currently faces is this increase in aggression. The war has expanded and spilled over into Lebanese regions. We reiterate our warning against this aggression, which will continuously intensify.”
The foreign minister identified the unresolved issue of occupation, particularly regarding border disputes with Israel, as the root cause of Lebanon’s ongoing instability.
“So long as the occupation persists, there will be instability and there will be war… we have striven to resolve border disputes with Israel. However, Israel has continuously eluded the issue or disregarded the matter,” he said.
While underscoring Lebanon’s right to defend itself under international law, Bou Habib stressed that the solution to the crisis lies in diplomacy, not war.
Bou Habib welcomed a recent declaration of the United States and France which offers a potential path to restoring calm and ensuring stability along Lebanon’s borders. He urged all parties involved to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. ■