Saudi Arabia expresses “great concern” over escalation in Lebanon

RIYADH, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) — Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring the recent escalation of violence in Lebanon with “great concern,” according to the kingdom’s foreign ministry on early Monday.
The ministry underscored the necessity of safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In light of the ongoing turmoil, Saudi Arabia reiterated its solidarity with the Lebanese populace and urged the international community to take decisive action to preserve regional peace and security, warning against the perils of war.
Furthermore, the ministry announced initiatives to provide medical and humanitarian aid to support the Lebanese people during these critical times.
Since Sept. 23, Israel has executed its most extensive military operations against Lebanon since 2006. It also launched airstrikes on Friday evening targeting Hezbollah’s headquarters in Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut, resulting in the deaths of the armed group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, along with several senior commanders.
These attacks mark a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes in southeastern Lebanon. ■