The United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon has urged Lebanon and Israel to begin talks aimed at ending renewed hostilities between the two sides. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert warned that conditions could deteriorate further if diplomatic efforts are not pursued, stressing that dialogue could help prevent future generations from reliving repeated cycles of violence.

Her appeal comes as Lebanon has been drawn deeper into the widening Middle East conflict. Fighting intensified after Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel, saying the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, in joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The call for negotiations follows rare direct talks held in December between Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives. Those discussions were part of a committee overseeing a November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, raising hopes that diplomacy could once again help contain the escalating crisis.