UN Security Council Decries Israel's Lebanon Offensive
French UN envoy Jerome Bonnafont said the emergency session was convened "in response to the major escalation currently underway, and the significant expansion of Israeli military operations in Lebanon, despite the ceasefire that entered into force on the 17th of April under the auspices of the United States."
Bonnafont warned that a new occupation would backfire strategically rather than deliver the security Israel seeks. "Far from bringing security to Israel and its citizens, a new occupation risks only fueling instability, because every village bombed and destroyed, every civilian killed strengthens Hezbollah and weakens the Lebanese executive," he said. He further insisted that "no security consideration can justify a permanent infringement upon the sovereignty of a state."
Russia's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia drew an unsparing comparison between Israel's actions in Lebanon and its ongoing campaign in Gaza, describing what he saw as "an almost identical replay of the scenario of clearing the Gaza Strip with the establishment of large-scale occupation control and the forced displacement of the local population." Nebenzia demanded an immediate Israeli withdrawal, cautioning that without it "it will be impossible to achieve a genuine ceasefire," and argued that "the deterioration of the situation in Lebanon was a direct result of the unjustified aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran."
China's UN envoy Fu Cong highlighted the geographic reach of the offensive, noting that Israel has "crossed the Litani River and occupied Balfour Castle" — what he characterized as "Israel's deepest military incursion in Lebanon in more than 20 years." Fu warned that Israel's stated plans to expand ground operations further were "deeply concerning to the international community."
The UK's Chargé d'Affaires James Kariuki condemned what he described as "reckless and disproportionate escalation of Israeli military action" that has "exacerbated an already devastating environment for Lebanese civilians," though he maintained that US-brokered negotiations "are the only viable path towards a lasting political settlement and the disarmament of Hezbollah."
US envoy Mike Waltz offered a sharply divergent assessment, crediting President Donald Trump's personal leadership and placing responsibility squarely on Hezbollah and Tehran — without a single reference to Israeli violations. "Both de-escalation and peace will come quickly if Hezbollah immediately ceases its attacks, as apparently it's promised, and the government of Lebanon asserts its full sovereignty, rebuilds, and brings its people home," he said.
Waltz cast Washington as a steadfast backer of Lebanon's government in its effort to "free their country from a terrorist organization that answers to Tehran," and outlined what he framed as a straightforward roadmap: "Hezbollah stops attacking Israel, the Lebanese armed forces and the legitimate government of Lebanon assert control over Lebanese territory, and Iran stops using Lebanon as a forward operating base."
The session laid bare the deepening fault lines within the Security Council over the Middle East crisis, with no unified resolution in sight.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
