NEW YORK — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday that Lebanon is teetering on the brink of all-out war, calling for urgent de-escalation to prevent further catastrophe in the region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Guterres addressed reporters at the UN headquarters, describing the Middle East as a "powder keg" due to escalating tensions. He has previously highlighted the risks of conflict spreading, especially with the situation "boiling over" in the occupied West Bank and recent attacks in Lebanon posing a regional threat. "We are on the verge of an all-out war in Lebanon, with already devastating consequences. But there is still time to stop," he emphasized.

The Secretary-General reported that recent large-scale Israeli strikes into Lebanon, including Beirut, have resulted in over 2,000 deaths in the last year, with 1,500 occurring in the past two weeks alone. Additionally, counterattacks from Hezbollah and others across the Blue Line have claimed at least 49 lives over the same period. Displacement has also reached alarming levels, with over a million people displaced within Lebanon and 300,000 fleeing into Syria, while northern Israel sees over 60,000 displaced persons.

Guterres commended the efforts of UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, for their continued commitment under difficult circumstances and urged all parties to ensure their safety. He described the past year as marked by multifaceted crises — humanitarian, political, diplomatic, and moral — particularly highlighting the dire situation in Gaza. "Gaza has become ground zero to a level of human suffering that is hard to fathom," he noted, with over 41,000 Palestinians killed, the majority being women and children, and thousands more missing.

The UN chief reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon, the unconditional release of hostages, and the provision of life-saving aid to those in need. He also stressed the need for a resolute move towards a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine to ensure long-term peace and respect for international law, which mandates the protection of civilians and their essential needs.