UN Security Council Convenes Over Escalating Violence in Lebanon

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting following Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon, which have left a dozen dead. The strikes killed Hezbollah's Ibrahim Aqil. UN officials warned of a deteriorating situation amid recent explosive attacks using wireless devices that have caused mass casualties and panic.

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on Friday in response to Israeli airstrikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon, resulting in at least a dozen casualties. The session was called amid escalating cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, compounded by two days of deadly wireless device explosions targeting militant group members.

The Israeli military confirmed an airstrike in southern Beirut on Friday that killed senior Hezbollah military leader Ibrahim Aqil, according to CNN. Aqil was a key figure in Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force. The strike led to significant destruction in the Jamous area of Beirut's southern suburbs, with at least two residential buildings collapsing.

UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric cautioned that the region stands "on the brink of a catastrophe." Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, voiced his dismay over the recent pager explosions in Lebanon. Highlighting the attacks' severe impact, Turk said, "The explosions of pagers, two-way radios, and other electronic devices on September 17-18 resulted in at least 37 deaths, including two children, and over 3,400 injuries, leaving many with permanent disabilities. Healthcare facilities are struggling to manage the overwhelming impact on civilians."

He added, "These attacks represent a troubling new warfare trend where everyday communication tools are turned into deadly weapons, exploding in public spaces and homes. Authorities have reportedly dismantled unexploded devices in universities, banks, and hospitals." Turk emphasized that these attacks have deepened fear and panic in Lebanon, already grappling with volatility and an ongoing economic crisis since October 2023. "This cannot be the new normal," he asserted.

Recent walkie-talkie and pager explosions have had devastating outcomes. In the latest attacks on Wednesday, at least 20 people died and over 450 were injured, according to Al Jazeera. This followed a coordinated pager explosion a day earlier that killed 12 and injured more than 2,800 people. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)