/”Avoidance of any further military interference in Lebanon by Israel, including a ground invasion, has been urged by Josep Borrell, the minister overseeing foreign affairs for the European Union.
A meeting of the foreign affairs ministers hailing from the EU’s 27 countries was rapidly arranged on Monday to deliberate on the intensifying strife between Hizbullah militants and Israel. This conference call was initiated as apprehension intensifies regarding a prospective ground assault on southern Lebanon by Israel. This comes after a fortnight of missile attacks which claimed the lives of numerous Hizbullah commanders among which was their enduring leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Due to these strikes, over a thousand Lebanese people have lost their lives, several thousand have suffered injuries and an approximate one million have fled their homes, as per data from the Lebanese government. Naim Qassem, the vice leader of Hizbullah, assured its resistance against any ground invasion by stating it is supported by Iran.
Following the conclusion of the foreign ministers’ consultation, Mr Borrell, the foremost EU representative for foreign affairs articulated that “any additional meddling in Lebanese affairs could drastically worsen the situation and therefore must be prevented.” He also highlighted the “massive dislocation” of Lebanese citizens with many of them seeking shelter in Syria and emphasised the “significant casualty numbers should not be overlooked.”
Mr Borrell, a Spanish statesman, advocated for EU’s commitment to support the Lebanese state institutions facing possible collapse. Their growing concern about the recent regional flare-up pushed them to urge all parties to exercise “restraint.”
He acknowledged during the discussion that some EU nations have argued Hizbullah had initiated the situation by firing rockets into Israel, following the offensive by Hamas militants in Israel on October 7th. Mr Borrell, while admitting Israel’s right to self-defence, insisted that they should be respectful of international humanitarian law. He prioritised the security of United Nations’ peacekeeping forces present in southern Lebanon, amongst which are troops from the Irish Defence Forces.”/
Prior to the gathering, Micheál Martin, Tánaiste and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, stressed the necessity for immediate de-escalation and a push towards a ceasefire, amid the sharp rise of hostilities in Lebanon. Warning that the Middle East is teetering on the edge of an abyss, he underlined the catastrophic potential of a more extensive conflict. With the most recent violent events hitting Lebanon’s citizen population the hardest, the urgent amplification of the EU’s humanitarian assistance was imperative, according to Martin.
The recent intensification of assaults on Lebanon marks a notable heightening of regional strife, following Israel’s incursion into Gaza almost a year ago, reacting to provocations by Hamas extremists. A summit is scheduled for later in October featuring heads from each of the 27 EU nations, where the turbulent situation in the Middle East is predicted to be a top-priority discussion point.