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Avi Melamed quoted by Rebecca Robinson in the article For Daily Express US, “UN chief warns Lebanon could become ‘another Gaza’ amid escalating Israel conflict”
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Avi Melamed, a regional analyst and former Israeli intelligence official, also told the outlet: “Israel has signaled that moving to the next stage of its war plan against Hezbollah is a real option, but it is not inevitable.”
The UN secretary-general warned that the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah could potentially turn Lebanon into “another Gaza.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning, suggesting that Lebanon is on the brink of becoming “another Gaza” in the wake of recent attacks on Hezbollah.
The situation between the Lebanese militant group and the Israeli military has been tense for 11 months due to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
However, this week saw a significant rise in hostilities after Hezbollah was targeted in attacks aimed at their electronic equipment.
Early on Sunday, Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets into northern Israel, while Israel responded with hundreds of strikes on Lebanon.
This exchange followed an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday, which resulted in the death of at least 45 individuals, including Hezbollah leader Ibrahim Akil, other militants, and civilians comprising women and children.
He said in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria: “There is a potential for a much stronger escalation. And that is what concerns the possibility of transforming Lebanon in[to] another Gaza, which I think would be a devastating tragedy for the world.”
This follows incidents involving explosive devices that destroyed numerous pagers held by Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday. This continued the following day with the detonation of additional electronics walkie-talkies in Lebanon.
A minimum of 37 individuals, including two children, lost their lives and over 3,000 were injured in two attacks. The assaults on Hezbollah are widely suspected to be the work of Israel, although Israel has not taken responsibility for them.
Daniel Shadmy, spokesperson for the non-governmental organization European Leadership Network-Israel (ELNET), told Newsweek: “We have never been closer to an all-out war, but it can still be avoided as we haven’t crossed the point of no return.
“As the tit-for-tat between Israel and Hezbollah continues, we are getting closer to a miscalculation and a dramatic escalation of hostilities.”
Avi Melamed, a regional analyst and former Israeli intelligence official, also told the outlet: “Israel has signaled that moving to the next stage of its war plan against Hezbollah is a real option, but it is not inevitable.”
“Iran and Hezbollah have an interest in ending the skirmish with Israel, especially after the significant blow Hezbollah suffered.
“I anticipate that Iranian pressure on [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar to reach an agreement that would at least temporarily halt the fighting in Gaza will intensify.”
Avi Melamed quoted by Rebecca Robinson in the article For Daily Express US, “UN chief warns Lebanon could become ‘another Gaza’ amid escalating Israel conflict”
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