The head of European diplomacy warned on Saturday that Lebanon could be drawn into a regional conflict if Israel’s war against the militant group Hamas widens.
During his visit to Lebanon, Josep Borrell said that it is necessary to avoid a regional escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and warned that regional conflict will not benefit anyone.
He spoke at a press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati after talks with top government officials about events in and around Gaza, including the consequences of the war and the situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border, Radio Free Europe reports.
“We are seeing a worrying increase in the exchange of fire along the Blue Line,” said Borrell.
The current demarcation line between the two countries is called the Blue Line, and it represents the line to which Israeli forces retreated after leaving southern Lebanon in 2000.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, the Lebanese military group linked to Iran – Hezbollah – has attacked positions in northern Israel almost daily, describing the actions as its support for the Palestinian group.