UPDATE - Opening 2nd front in Lebanon would be 'disaster,' warns Ireland

ADDS MORE REMARKS

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The Irish taoiseach (prime minister) on Wednesday condemned the bombing of civilian areas in Lebanon and firing of rockets towards Israel, warning that opening a second front in Lebanon would be a "disaster."

After meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, Simon Harris said the dangerous escalation and loss of life in the Middle East is continuing.

"I utterly condemn the bombing of civilian areas in Southern Lebanon by Israel and the firing of rockets towards civilian areas in Israel by Hezbollah," he said in a statement issued by his office after the meeting.

"There has been a shocking loss of life this week, but even at this stage it’s not too late for all sides to step back from the brink,” he urged.

Israel has launched waves of deadly airstrikes in Lebanon since Monday morning, killing nearly 610 people and injuring over 2,000 others, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Harris underlined that Gaza, where more than 41,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since last October, is in ruins and in desperate need of the world’s help.

"Opening a second front in Lebanon would be a disaster, risking an all-out war with profound consequences for the region and the world," he warned.

During the meeting, Harris received a briefing and situational report on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the peacekeeping missing in southern Lebanon, the statement added.

"Their safety is paramount, and the secretary-general assured me that conditions are under constant review and that UNIFIL is prepared for all eventualities. We agreed to stay in close touch as the situation evolves," said Harris.

He also urged all remaining Irish civilians in Lebanon to leave immediately, saying those not in a position to do so should ensure that they are registered with the Irish Embassy in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border clashes since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 41,400 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last October.

The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the specter of spreading the Gaza conflict regionally.