UN fears confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah could lead to “total disaster”

On January 17, speaking at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland), United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that an all-out confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon would be a “total disaster,” and called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The UN Secretary-General said the conflict had spread and was threatening a full-scale confrontation in Lebanon that would lead to a total catastrophe. This must be avoided at all costs.

According to Mr. Guterres, it is important to resolve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, there must be a humanitarian ceasefire.

Immediately after the Hamas-Israel conflict broke out, Hezbollah, a pro-Hamas force, attacked towards the Israeli border. Skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces are taking place daily and are now threatening to explode into an all-out war.

On January 17, the country's army announced that it carried out many airstrikes in southern Lebanon for the second consecutive day.

According to an Israeli military spokesman, the airstrikes began in the morning, with fighter jets attacking sites in the Hula area, while tanks also shelled sites in the Aytaash Shab area believed to belong to Hezbollah forces.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah also fired anti-tank missiles towards Gladiola, an Israeli military outpost at the border of Lebanon, Syria and Israel. Earlier, on January 16, Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes on locations in the Suluki Valley in southern Lebanon.

Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw 30km from the border area towards the Litani River, but the parties are aiming for a compromise of 10km. In return, the US has mentioned a funding package for Lebanon's struggling economy.