The risk of a regional escalation of the war between Israel and Hamas remains "significant," the head of the UN peacekeeping forces warned on Friday, cautioning against the perception that the involved parties will avoid crossing certain lines.
A UNIFIL logistical convoy departed from Naqoura © Pasqual Gorriz (UN)
The risk of a regional escalation of the war between Israel and Hamas remains "significant," the head of the UN peacekeeping forces warned on Friday, cautioning against the perception that the involved parties will avoid crossing certain lines.
“Some may feel that there are rules which none of the parties want to break, and that, consequently, we are in a more stable situation than it seems,” explained Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, during a press conference in Brussels. However, he stressed that "there remains a very significant risk of escalation at the regional level" and warned, "We are still in a very, very dangerous situation."
UNIFIL's Limited Impact in Southern Lebanon
The UN forces deployed in Southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) have faced criticism for their inability to effectively prevent Hezbollah's attacks against Israel. Despite a 2006 UN resolution aimed at pushing Hezbollah militants 30 kilometers away from the border, this mandate has never been fully implemented.
Today, Southern Lebanon has reportedly become a vast depot of weapons and a command center for Hezbollah, challenging the peacekeeping force's mandate and highlighting the ongoing volatility in the region. The situation underscores the UN’s limited ability to enforce peace and security in an area increasingly dominated by armed factions.
By Francois Khoury
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a speech at the UN on Wednesday that Tehran would never surrender to the US but still believes in diplomacy, a day after President Donald Trump used the same forum to threaten to "annihilate" Iran.
If neighbouring countries cooperate with the United States by stopping Iranian flights, Iran will ensure their airports cannot function, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said in an interview with state TV on Wednesday.
The first shuttle talks between the United States and Iran for months raised hopes on Wednesday that the adversaries could make progress towards ending the Middle East war, although neither side spelled out any change in its position.
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