Doha, September 24 (QNA) - The Israeli aggression on Lebanon has prompted a widespread condemnation and warnings against the risk of a full-blown regional war, in the wake of the brutal Israeli bombardment of Lebanon yesterday, which left hundreds killed and injured.

The State of Qatar condemned, in the strongest terms, the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, and warned against expanding the circle of violence in the region and sliding into a comprehensive regional war, amid the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the continued escalation is primarily due to the absence of any deterrent to Israel's actions, its repeated violations of international law, and its continued impunity.

It also warned that this reality exacerbates crises, and puts the region on the brink of the abyss.

The Ministry urged the international community to assume its responsibilities by taking urgent action to compel the Israeli occupation authorities to stop their brutal aggression against Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

In turn, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stressed the importance of maintaining Lebanon's stability and respecting its sovereignty in line with the international law, noting that it is following the developments of the security-related events taking place in Lebanese territory with great concern, and renews its warning of the danger of the violence spreading in the region, and the serious repercussions of the escalation on the security and stability of the region.

The Kingdom urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to spare the region and its people from the dangers of war; calling on the international community and influential parties to assume their roles and responsibilities to end conflicts in the region.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi affirmed the GCC's steadfast support for Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and stability.

In a statement, Albudaiwi said that the violations carried out by the Israeli occupation forces in Lebanese territories represent a serious threat that could lead to an outbreak of tensions in the region, emphasizing the need to strengthen all international efforts to achieve stability and security in the region.

The Arab League Council at the level of foreign ministers warned of the repercussions of escalating the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, which could lead to the outbreak of a large-scale regional war and threaten the security and stability of the entire region.

This came in the statement issued by the Council at the conclusion of its annual consultative meeting held Monday night on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79).

The Council affirmed full solidarity with Lebanon, its government and people, and its strong condemnation of the escalating Israeli aggression against it.

It emphasized full support for Lebanon in confronting this aggression, and held the Israeli entity responsible for this dangerous escalation.

King Abdullah II of Jordan affirmed that Jordan stands with Lebanon and its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens in the face of the Israeli war.

He urged the international community to stand with Lebanon at this difficult time to protect innocent civilians, and to move urgently to end all forms of regional escalation.

King Abdullah warned of the dangerous Israeli escalation in Lebanon, and stressed the need for concerted international efforts to put a stop to it before the entire region is dragged into an all-out war; noting that ending escalation in the region begins with the immediate stop of the war on Gaza.
Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Security Council to intervene immediately to end the Israeli escalation in Lebanon, noting that said it continues its efforts towards a ceasefire in Gaza.

In Baghdad, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein announced that Iraq has submitted a proposal to hold an emergency Arab-Islamic summit aimed at unifying efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Lebanon; emphasizing the need for an urgent and collective action to protect the Lebanese people and defend their legitimate rights in accordance with international laws. 

In Washington, US President Joe Biden affirmed efforts to reduce the escalation in Lebanon "in a way that allows people to return home safely".

The White House said that finding a solution to the conflict on both sides of the Blue Line border between Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories quickly and through diplomatic means is in the interest of all parties.

In turn, the Turkish Foreign Ministry warned that Israel's attacks on Lebanon mark a new phase in its efforts to drag the entire region into chaos, urging all institutions responsible for maintaining international peace and security, especially the UN Security Council, as well as the international community, to take necessary measures without delay.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that France had requested an emergency UNSC meeting to address the conflict, stressing that the strikes must immediately end and France once again is calling on the parties and those that support them to deescalate.

"These strikes conducted on both sides of the Blue Line, and in the region more broadly, must immediately end," he added.

Meanwhile, China condemned Israel's indiscriminate attacks against civilians in Lebanon. Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed China's firm support for Lebanon in safeguarding its security and sovereignty.

Wang affirmed that China strongly condemns any action that violates the basic norms governing international relations, adding that the current situation "is a manifestation of the spillover effect of the conflicts in Gaza." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Israel seeks to create this all-out conflict, stressing that a larger war in the Middle East will not benefit anyone throughout the world.

He emphasized Israel must stop its crimes in Gaza, Lebanon and the rest of the countries in order to realize security and stability in the region.

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said there was no effective pressure on Israel to end the war on the Gaza Strip, warning that the escalation in Lebanon is a "minefield" that the international community could not be able to deal with.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was gravely alarmed by the escalating situation in Lebanon and the large number of civilian casualties.

His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said the UN chief noted the ongoing efforts by the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to reduce tensions, and reiterated the urgent need for an immediate de-escalation and that all efforts be devoted to a diplomatic solution.

The Group of Seven (G7) called for a "a stop to the current destructive cycle" that could catapult the "entire Middle East into a broader regional conflict with unimaginable consequences".

"Actions and counter-reactions risk magnifying this dangerous spiral of violence," said a statement by the G7.

Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned "we are almost in a full-fledged war" and called for full efforts at de-escalation during the UN General Assembly in New York.

He described the situation as very dangerous and worrying, stressing the need to exert all diplomatic efforts to prevent the outbreak of a comprehensive war.

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) warned of "far-reaching and devastating consequences" for the entire region if Israels attacks in southern Lebanon continue to escalate.

It warned that "any further escalation of this dangerous situation could have far-reaching and devastating consequences" not only on Lebanon but on "the broader region".

(QNA)