UK calls for de-escalation of tension on Israeli-Lebanese border

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The UK's foreign secretary has reiterated his concern over the ongoing tension on the Israeli-Lebanese border, calling for de-escalation on the Blue Line.

"I’m here on the ground meeting with influential figures to call for immediate de-escalation in the region," David Lammy said in a Foreign Office statement on Friday, released after his Lebanon trip along with Defence Secretary John Healey ended on Thursday.

Lammy, whose first official visit to Lebanon as foreign secretary, called for de-escalation along the Blue Line and the need for a diplomatic solution based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

His visit came after condemning the strike in Golan Heights which killed at least 12 lives and raised deep concerns over the risk of further escalation and destabilization.

Lammy and Healey met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Joseph Aoun, added the statement.

"I’ve raised my concerns about the on-going tensions between Lebanon and Israel and have highlighted the UK’s determination to avoid miscalculation," said Lammy.

For his part, Healey added: "De-escalation must be our primary focus as this region stands at a crossroads. The loss of innocent life in recent weeks and months is unbearable. This has to end."

Tension has escalated between Hezbollah and Israel following a missile attack on the Druze town of Majdal Shams in Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on July 27.

While Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack, the Lebanese group denied any responsibility.

On July 30, the Israeli military struck southern Beirut to target a senior Hezbollah commander. A day later, Palestinian group Hamas announced that its leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an airstrike in Iran’s capital Tehran.

Israel has not yet confirmed or denied its involvement.

Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian group Hamas.

Nearly 39,500 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and around 91,100 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Over eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.