The UN has called for immediate investigations into deadly Israeli strikes across Lebanon to assess compliance with international humanitarian law. UN rights chief Volker Turk and spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani warned that mass evacuation orders affecting hundreds of thousands risk illegal forced displacement. Lebanon's health ministry reported 123 killed since Monday, while Israel said it carried out 26 waves of strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. The UN urged urgent de-escalation and protection for civilians.
UN Demands Rapid Probe After Deadly Israeli Strikes in Lebanon, Warns of Mass Displacement
Lebanese authorities say Israeli air strikes in the country this week have left dozens dead (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
The United Nations on Friday urged immediate and thorough investigations into deadly Israeli strikes across Lebanon to determine whether they complied with international humanitarian law.
'Lebanon is becoming a key flashpoint,' UN rights chief Volker Turk said at a briefing in Geneva.
'I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities,' he added.
Turk and UN spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani expressed deep concern about evacuation orders issued by Israeli authorities that affect Beirut's southern suburbs, the Bekaa valley and areas south of the Litani River. The UN describes these as 'blanket, massive displacement orders' impacting hundreds of thousands of people and warned they could amount to prohibited forced displacement under international law.
The Israeli military said it had carried out 26 waves of strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs over four days. Lebanon's health ministry reported that Israeli strikes since Monday had killed 123 people.
Shamdasani pointed to reports of specific civilian losses, including at least eight people — among them children — killed in a strike on a residential building in Baalbek, and a family of four reportedly killed in the Nabatyeh district. She stressed that 'prompt and thorough investigations must be conducted, particularly to determine whether such attacks complied with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.'
The UN also noted continued rocket barrages by Hezbollah into Israel, which have struck residential areas in northern and central Israel and reportedly injured civilians. Shamdasani said these attacks raise concerns about indiscriminate strikes on civilians and underscored the need for urgent de-escalation.
What the UN is calling for: swift independent investigations, protection for civilians, respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, and an immediate halt or rapid de-escalation of hostilities to prevent a growing humanitarian catastrophe.
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