UN Security Council to hold emergency session on Lebanon tensions

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene an emergency session on Wednesday to address the intensifying conflict in Lebanon, marking the second such meeting in a week.

The Permanent Mission of Slovenia announced that the session, requested by France, is set to begin at 6 p.m. Eastern time. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to deliver the opening remarks, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Escalating violence in Lebanon has sparked international concern, particularly following Israeli airstrikes that have targeted what the Israeli military identified as Hezbollah positions. Since early Monday, the Israeli army has conducted a series of air raids, contributing to a rising civilian death toll.

Health Minister Firas Abiad confirmed that the strikes have resulted in the deaths of more than 560 people, including 95 women and 50 children. Additionally, 1,835 individuals have been injured in the violence, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.

Lebanon’s Environment Minister Nasser Yassin provided further details on the devastation caused by the ongoing military action. Speaking at a press conference following his visit to several shelters, Yassin revealed that at least 27,000 people have been displaced from southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region. Public schools across Lebanon, totaling approximately 252, have been converted into shelters to accommodate those fleeing the violence.

“Thousands of civilians have fled their homes, seeking safety in makeshift shelters across the country,” Yassin said, emphasizing the magnitude of the displacement. In the past 24 hours, relief efforts have ramped up, with essential aid, hygiene kits, and food supplies being distributed to some 20,000 displaced people.

The violence in Lebanon comes amid a broader escalation of hostilities in the region, spurred by the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The cross-border warfare between the two intensified after Israel began its military campaign in Gaza following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7. The Israeli offensive in Gaza has so far claimed the lives of more than 41,400 people, with the majority of the casualties being women and children.

Lebanese officials have condemned the Israeli strikes, with Health Minister Abiad stressing that “the majority of the victims in the Israeli attacks since Monday morning are defenseless civilians in their homes.” He added that these actions contradict Israel’s claims that its strikes are focused on military targets.

The UNSC’s latest emergency meeting comes just days after a prior session on September 20, which addressed attacks using pager and radio devices, for which Israel was held responsible. The international community remains on high alert as the conflict continues to spread across the region.