Guterres in Beirut: "No Military Solution — Only Diplomacy" as Lebanon Faces Heavy Strikes

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Beirut and issued a stark warning that the Lebanese people have been "dragged into" war, urging an immediate end to the fighting. "There is no military solution, only diplomacy," he said, adding that "the south [of Lebanon] risks becoming a wasteland" and that southern Beirut — under sweeping evacuation orders — "risks being bombed to oblivion."

Flash Appeal and Humanitarian Need
Guterres traveled to Lebanon to launch a $325 million flash appeal to assist more than 800,000 people internally displaced since Lebanon became embroiled in the wider regional conflict on March 2, when cross-border hostilities escalated after an attack by Hezbollah on Israel.

Civilians at Risk
Asked whether Israel’s evacuation directives, now affecting roughly 14% of Lebanon, comply with international humanitarian law, Guterres replied: "Whatever does not create enough security for civilians inevitably becomes in violation of international humanitarian law." The Israeli army has issued sweeping orders for residents of south Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate while conducting heavy strikes in those areas.

Casualties and Hospital Attacks
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported that the death toll from recent strikes has reached 826 since March 2, with more than 2,000 injured. The ministry said the fatalities include women, children and medical personnel; Lebanese health authorities also reported that an overnight strike killed 12 doctors, paramedics and nurses at a healthcare centre in the southern town of Burj Qalawiya.

The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah operatives near Majdal who were allegedly moving rockets into a weapons depot and has warned it will act "in accordance with international law" if medical facilities or ambulances are used for military purposes. Hezbollah denied using medical services for military aims; Israel has not publicly produced evidence supporting those specific allegations.

UN Presence and Diplomacy
Guterres said a UN special coordinator was engaging "around the clock" with all parties to bring them to the negotiating table and confirmed that UN peacekeepers with the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) remain deployed. He described attacks on UN personnel as "completely unacceptable."

High-level consultations inside Lebanon are underway to form an ambassadorial-level negotiating delegation to prepare for possible talks with Israel, with Cyprus or a European capital such as Paris mooted as potential venues. The Lebanese presidency said it wants broad political representation in any delegation, while Speaker Nabih Berri has demanded a ceasefire as a precondition for negotiations.

International Responses
Reports in Israeli media such as Haaretz suggested potential US involvement in mediation, naming Jared Kushner as a possible participant and mentioning Ron Dermer as a likely head of Israel’s delegation. French President Emmanuel Macron said Lebanon was ready for direct talks with Israel and offered to host negotiations in Paris to prevent the country from descending into chaos.

From Ramallah, Al Jazeera correspondents reported Israel’s cabinet was set to discuss the possibility of a ground invasion and the occupation of parts of southern Lebanon. Turkey’s foreign minister warned that Israel could be committing "a new genocide," a claim he made while citing the heavy death toll in Gaza and expressing fears of further escalation; the statement is presented as the minister’s view.

Guterres: "There is no military solution, only diplomacy."

As diplomatic efforts proceed, humanitarian needs in Lebanon remain acute: the flash appeal seeks urgent funding for shelter, medical care and basic services for the hundreds of thousands displaced by the fighting.