– We condemn attacks on civilians in the strongest possible terms. All parties must do what they can to protect civilians in accordance with their obligations under humanitarian law, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) to NTB.
In the last 24 hours, there has been a sharp escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. On Saturday, a football field in a village on the Golan Heights was hit by a rocket attack that killed twelve children and young people between 10 and 20 years old.
A large number of countries have condemned the attack, including France, Great Britain, Germany and the United States.
– The attacks must stop immediately. It is important to keep a cool head. Far too many people have already lost their lives in this conflict, writes German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on X/Twitter.
– Hezbollah bears all responsibility
Saturday’s rocket attack hit a football pitch in the Druze town of Majdal Shams on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The rocket probably came from Lebanon. Hezbollah has denied being behind the attack.
A spokesperson for the Israeli army (IDF) has stated that they have intelligence showing that Hezbollah fired at least 30 rockets at Israel, including the rocket that hit the soccer field. The spokesperson says it was the deadliest attack on Israel since the Hamas attack last October.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry says that Hezbollah “bears full responsibility” for the rocket attack on the Golan Heights.
– This is not an army fighting another army, it is a terrorist organization that is shooting at innocent civilians, says the Israeli Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Counterattack in Lebanon
On Sunday, Israel said it had responded with strikes “deep into Lebanese territory”.
– Last night Israel’s air force attacked a number of Hezbollah terrorist targets both deep inside Lebanese territory and in southern Lebanon, including weapons caches and terrorist infrastructure in the areas of Chabriha, Borj El Chmali, Beqaa, Kfarkela, Rab El Thalathine, Khiam, Tayr Harfa , says a message from the IDF.
Iran has warned Israel that the attack will have consequences, and Lebanon has stated that a major attack by Israel will lead to regional war.
Lebanon has asked the US to tell Israel to show restraint. The US is said to have asked Lebanon’s government to send a similar message to Hezbollah. However, the Lebanese government does not have control over Hezbollah, which is both a militia and a political party.
Fear of escalation
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated to the website Axios that full-scale war with Hezbollah and Lebanon is now approaching. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled the rest of the program on his visit to the United States to rush home.
Now many fear that the conflict could escalate, including Foreign Minister Barth Eide.
– I am deeply concerned about the development in the region. An escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could represent a turning point in the conflict, he tells NTB.
Both he and several of his European foreign minister colleagues advocate reducing the level of conflict.
– France demands that you do everything in your power to avoid a new military escalation and that we continue to work with the parties involved regarding this, says a statement from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Warns Norwegian citizens in the region
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent out a message to all Norwegian citizens residing in Lebanon and Israel that the latest developments may increase the level of conflict between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel.
– The Norwegian authorities are reminding the travel council for Lebanon, which encourages Norwegian citizens to leave the country. In the event of a worsening of the security situation, the possibilities for exit can be quickly reduced or terminated. In such a situation, the Norwegian authorities will have very few opportunities to help Norwegian citizens out of Lebanon, it says.
Norwegian citizens in Israel are reminded by the travel council that the security situation is serious and unpredictable with the risk of escalation.
– The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel that is not strictly necessary.
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2024-07-29 11:11:53
