German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday warned the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could lead to the “complete destabilization” of Lebanon, with dangerous consequences for the entire Middle East, as she arrived in Beirut.
“A complete destabilization of the country would be fatal for the most religiously diverse society in the Middle East, and also for the entire region,” Baerbock said in the Lebanese capital ahead of talks with Lebanese politicians and aid organizations.
She argued that Israel has “succeeded in significantly weakening the Hezbollah terrorist organization” in recent weeks, amid a wave of Israeli strikes on targets in Beirut and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.
“Now we need to work with our partners in the US, Europe and the Arab world to find a viable diplomatic solution that safeguards the legitimate security interests of Israel and Lebanon,” Baerbock stated.
The German foreign minister said the key to peace lies in the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia to withdraw from southern Lebanon in order to protect residents of northern Israel.
Amid the fighting, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly desperate in Lebanon, Baerbock highlighted.
She condemned “how irresponsibly terrorists hide behind civilians and continue to fire rockets at Israel,” while demanding that Israel respect international humanitarian law and protect innocents.
She also insisted that UN peacekeepers must be protected, after a number of attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were attributed to Israeli forces in recent weeks.
“Any deliberate attack on UN peacekeepers is a violation of international humanitarian law,” she warned.
