Time is running out, Guterres tells UN Security Council
Over now to an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.
“The raging fires in the middle east are fast becoming an inferno,” UN secretary general Antonio Guterres tells delegates.
He says since last week, things have “gone from bad, to much, much worse”.
He describes Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon as “relentless”. He speaks of a proposed temporary ceasefire, but says Israel rejected this and “stepped up” their strikes.
UN peacekeepers remain in position, he says, and the “UN flag continues to fly despite Israel’s request to relocate”.
He also says “I again strongly condemn” Iran’s missile attack on Israel. Earlier, he was banned from Israel as they claim he had not yet condemned the attacks.
Guterres adds that it is “absolutely essential to avoid all-out war in Lebanon” and says it would have “profound and devastating consequences”.
“Time is running out.”
He calls for a ceasefire.