UN ‘highly alarmed’ by Israeli attacks on Lebanon

13 July 2006

BEIRUT - The UN representative in Lebanon said on Thursday he was “highly alarmed” by Israel’s attacks across the country, and called for an end to hostilities.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s personal representative to Lebanon, Gier Pederson, said in a statement that he was “highly alarmed by Israel’s heavy attacks and escalation.”

“In Lebanon, many civilians have been killed and much civilian infrastructure has been destroyed,” he said.

“It is of the deepest concern that the Israeli military is enforcing an air and sea blockade which will serve to increase the hardship imposed on the Lebanese population.”

Pedersen also spoke of the Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel that have left two Israelis dead and dozens injured.

“The United Nations condemns these violations... It deplores the fact that civilians are victims of these acts, reminds all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and calls for the immediate cessation of all hostilities in order to allow for a peaceful resolution of this crisis,” he said.