EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that the international community must accelerate efforts for a political solution to end the fighting in Lebanon and prevent “ignition.”
In a statement issued the day after a conference on aid to Lebanon in France, Borrell said the first step was a “ceasefire” between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We are currently engaged in a race against time between the possible beginning of a political process in Lebanon and a generalized confrontation with countless consequences,” Borrell said.
“Without suspension of hostilities, nothing will be possible,” he said.
Borrell said that once the fighting stops, Lebanon needs to hold long-delayed presidential elections “as soon as possible.”
He said the Lebanese Armed Forces should become “the only military force” present in the south of the country, where Israel is engaged in a ground battle with Hezbollah.
He said the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the region should also be strengthened.
International calls to end the fighting have so far failed to end the fighting in the region.
The Paris conference on aid to conflict-torn Lebanon raised nearly $800 million for humanitarian aid, but saw little diplomatic progress.
Israel has been at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon since late last month in an effort to secure its northern border after nearly a year of cross-border firing from the Iran-backed armed group.
Following the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Hezbollah launched low-intensity attacks on Israel in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, the deadliest attack in its history.
Following a nearly year-long war in Gaza due to the attack, Israel turned its attention to Lebanon last month, sending ground troops on September 30 and launching a massive bombing campaign across the country, mainly targeting Hezbollah strongholds. Did.
At least 1,580 people have been killed in the war in Lebanon, according to an AFP tally of figures from the Lebanese health ministry.
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