Fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has escalated across the Lebanese border following the Gaza war, which erupted after Hamas attacked Israeli towns last year.
Israeli soldiers were instructed to prepare for a potential ground operation against Hezbollah, while U.S. President Joe Biden issued warnings about the risk of an “all-out war” in the region. The United States clarified that a ground operation was not anticipated imminently, with Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stating that the operation did not seem immediate.
The U.S., along with France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, among other nations, called for a 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for an immediate halt to the conflict, warning that the situation could worsen dramatically.
Iran condemned Israel’s military actions and stated that the Middle East was on the verge of a “full-scale catastrophe.” Tehran also promised support to Lebanon by “all means” if Israel escalated its offensive.
India, concerned about the deteriorating situation, issued a travel advisory urging its citizens not to travel to Lebanon. The Indian Embassy in Beirut also advised Indian nationals residing in Lebanon to leave the country and exercise “extreme caution.”
The tensions between Israel and Hezbollah intensified after Hamas, a Hezbollah ally backed by Iran, attacked Israeli towns in October last year.