鈥楳iscalculation鈥� could lead to wider Hezbollah-Israel conflict, say UN officials

Smoke billows from fires ignited by Israeli shelling on the forested areas of the southern Lebanese village of Deir Mimas on Jun. 15, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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  • 鈥淭he danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real,鈥� the two officials said
  • The United States and France are working on a negotiated settlement to the hostilities along Lebanon鈥檚 southern border

BEIRUT: There is a 鈥渧ery real鈥� risk that a miscalculation along Lebanon鈥檚 southern border could trigger a wider conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, 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 鈥渄eeply concerned鈥� about the recent escalation along Lebanon鈥檚 border.
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 Israeli military, in parallel with the Gaza war.
鈥淭he danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real,鈥� the two officials said in a written statement on Saturday.
The United States and France are working on a negotiated settlement to the hostilities along Lebanon鈥檚 southern border. Hezbollah says it will not halt fire unless Israel鈥檚 military offensive on Gaza stops.