A US Defense Department press secretary has said that the tit for tat activity between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon clearly escalated this week and that “there is the potential for a wider regional war.”
Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday that the United States will continue to call for diplomatic means to be used to resolve the conflict. He added that the US is sending a small number of additional troops to the Middle East to augment its presence there. Ryder did not say where the troops will be deployed, or what their mission will be.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the UN chief is very concerned about the “large number of civilian casualties” and “thousands of displaced persons” in Lebanon. Stephane Dujarric added that Guterres’ concerns come amid “the most intense exchange of fire” since last October.
He said that Guterres is urging all parties to recommit to the full implementation of a relevant UN Security Council resolution and “immediately return to a cessation of hostilities” to restore stability.
Dujarric said the top UN coordinator in Lebanon is meeting with Israeli authorities to discuss the latest situation. He also said that humanitarian organizations urgently need funds to prepare food, shelters and supplies for the people in Lebanon for the next four weeks.
Chaos has been spreading in southern Lebanon in the wake of a barrage of airstrikes carried out by Israel. Footage shot by a local journalist shows white smoke rising from a residential area and roads congested with vehicles trying to head north.
The journalist said that the airstrikes began around noon on Monday. A missile reportedly exploded near the journalist’s home.
Lebanese media outlets say residents received text messages from the Israeli military urging them to move away from buildings storing Hezbollah’s weapons. Reports also say that Israeli forces briefly took over a local radio service and broadcast a message telling residents to evacuate.
The Lebanese government has announced that it will free up public school buildings across the country, so that they can be used as shelters for citizens fleeing from the south.