The following is a statement of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon,

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, “What we feared has materialized. With strikes throughout Lebanon, including in the heart of Beirut, and incursions across the Blue Line, violence is spiraling to dangerous heights.

Every rocket and missile fired, every bomb dropped and every ground raid conducted pull the parties further from the ?vision set out in Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and the conditions needed for the safe return of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line.

This cycle of violence will not end well – for anyone. A sliver of opportunity remains for diplomacy to succeed. The question now is whether it will be seized or squandered.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon