BEIRUT: The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, on Thursday urged Lebanon and Israel to ease tensions along their volatile border, saying that since his last visit to the region in January “the drums of war have not stopped pounding.”
Speaking in Beirut, Borrell expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict and the risk of a wider war.
Borrell’s remarks came as clashes continued between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, with both sides engaging in cross-border attacks. The tensions have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with Hezbollah vowing to maintain its attacks until Israel ceases its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
“Since I last visited Lebanon in January, the drums of war have not stopped pounding,” Borrell said during a joint press conference with Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib. He added, “The fears I outlined then have grown, with increased escalation and the risk of the Gaza conflict spilling over, causing more widespread human suffering.”
The EU foreign policy chief noted that efforts to mitigate the conflict have so far been unsuccessful. In late August, an exchange of heavy fire between Israel and Hezbollah briefly raised fears of a full-scale war, but both sides later pulled back.
Borrell highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict on the region, citing UN reports that indicate more than 4,000 residential buildings have been destroyed in Lebanon and over 110,000 people displaced along the border.
Since the escalation began on October 8, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of over 500 people.
Borrell stressed the need for de-escalation, urging all parties to pursue a path toward reducing military tensions. He also highlighted the importance of implementing the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
