New York, April 8 (Petra) -- The United Nations on Wednesday strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon that have caused a high number of civilian casualties, urging all parties to return to diplomatic channels.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said the organization is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a renewed commitment to Security Council Resolution 1701. The Secretary-General urged all actors to comply with existing ceasefire frameworks to prevent further regional escalation.

Haq noted that the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran provides a critical window to avoid further loss of life in both Lebanon and Israel. He added that the current moment should be utilized to pursue talks to resolve outstanding disputes and move toward a permanent ceasefire and a long-term resolution to the conflict.

The United Nations underscored that there is no military solution to the ongoing crisis, emphasizing that sustainable peace can only be achieved through diplomatic engagement and the fulfillment of international mandates.

//Petra// AF