Miscalculation’ could lead to wider Hezbollah-Israel conflict: UN

BEIRUT: There is a “very real” risk that a miscalculation along Lebanon’s southern border could trigger a wider conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, two UN officials in Lebanon warned on Saturday.

The United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the head of UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, Aroldo Lazaro, said they were “deeply concerned” about the recent escalation along Lebanon’s border.

Read more: Israeli strike reported to have killed two people in southern Lebanon

Iran-backed Hezbollah last week launched the largest volleys of rockets and drones yet in the eight months it has been exchanging fire with the Israel military, in parallel with the Gaza war.

“The danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real,” the two officials said in a written statement on Saturday.

Read more: Lebanon: Fears rise over a potential war with Israel

The United States and France are working on a negotiated settlement to the hostilities along Lebanon’s southern border. Hezbollah says it will not halt fire unless Israel’s military offensive on Gaza stops.