The United Nations cautioned Israel on Tuesday against a 'large-scale ground invasion' of Lebanon, following the initiation of a ground assault by the Israeli military.
'With armed violence between Israel and Hezbollah escalating, the consequences for civilians have already been dire,' stated Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN rights office, during a press briefing in Geneva.
'We are concerned that a large-scale ground invasion by Israel into Lebanon would exacerbate the suffering,' she warned. Her remarks came as Israeli troops engaged in intense battles within Lebanon after launching an invasion early on Tuesday, following a week of lethal airstrikes.
Prior to the invasion, Throssell noted that Israel's escalating strikes on Lebanon reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people within just two weeks. The ongoing violence has also compelled up to a million individuals to flee their homes, according to Lebanese authorities.
The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, expressed 'deep concern' regarding the Israeli invasion. 'We urge all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians, adhere to international humanitarian law, and engage in immediate de-escalation to prevent further loss of life and suffering,' stated OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke.
On Tuesday, OCHA and Lebanon's prime minister issued an urgent appeal for $426 million to address the humanitarian crisis in the country over the next three months. Laerke mentioned that the appeal aims to assist one million people based on 'the needs we are aware of.' However, he cautioned that with the latest developments, 'things could worsen.'
Israel has expanded its attacks in recent days to include Lebanon as well as the Gaza Strip, targeting Iran's regional ally, Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been conducting low-intensity strikes on Israeli troops since its Palestinian ally Hamas launched a devastating attack in Israel on October 7.
Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza has ravaged the densely populated Palestinian territory, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties. Throssell highlighted that even before the recent escalation, 'tens of thousands of homes across Lebanon had been reportedly damaged or destroyed' due to Israel's counterattacks against Hezbollah.
'Medical facilities have been damaged, with 10% of health centers in Lebanon closed,' she added. Since October 2023, 41 medical workers in Lebanon have reportedly been killed and 111 wounded, 'with 14 killed in the last two days alone.'
Throssell also pointed out that over 60,000 people had been displaced in Israel amid Hezbollah's missile fire over the past year. 'The impact of the escalation resulting from Huthi missile fire from Yemen into Israel and Israeli attacks in response are also deeply troubling,' she noted, urging all parties involved in the conflicts to 'do all they can to protect the lives of civilians.'
'Too many innocent children, women, and men have been killed, and too much destruction has been inflicted,' she stated. Tuesday's invasion followed Israel's air strikes on Gaza, the southern part of Lebanon's capital Beirut, and the Syrian capital Damascus—despite international calls for restraint to prevent a regional conflagration.
'We are gravely concerned by the expanding hostilities in the Middle East and their potential to engulf the entire region in a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe,' Throssell said. 'The prospects that the situation may deteriorate further with terrible impact on civilians, and that it could rapidly expand to involve other states in the region, are real.'
