RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called for an immediate ceasefire and avoiding military escalation in Lebanon.
In a statement, GCC Secretary-General Jasem bin Mohamed al Budaiwi affirmed the GCC's steadfast stances in support of the fraternal Lebanese people and its continuous backing for Lebanon's sovereignty, security and stability.
He emphasised the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and refraining from engaging in regional conflicts to prevent the expansion of the conflict in the region.
He also reiterated the points made in the ministerial statement of the GCC countries, which call for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which emphasises the need for Israel to respect Lebanese borders and for the Lebanese government to exercise control over all Lebanese territories, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions and the Taif Agreement. This is essential for Lebanon to fully exercise its sovereignty, ensuring that no weapons exist without the approval of the Lebanese government and that no authority exists other than its own.
Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said ground forces could be used against Hezbollah in Lebanon, adding military operations will go on despite the killing of the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Gallant made the comments while speaking to Israeli troops deployed to the northern border where cross-border fire with Hezbollah continued for nearly a year but escalated this month.
"We will use all the means that may be required — your forces, other forces, from the air, from the sea and on land," Gallant said.
Israel killed Nasrallah on Friday in an air strike on the group's southern Beirut stronghold.
Israel had intensified air raids against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon from September 23, when Lebanon's health ministry said at least 558 people were killed, in the deadliest day of violence since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war.
Israeli officials have been hinting at a potential ground invasion into Lebanon, following attacks which decimated Hezbollah's leadership and communications this month.
Meanwhile, the US envoy to the United Nations said in New York that the United States does not want to see violence spread in the Middle East and wants to see a de-escalation.
"We want to find a path to peace so that Palestinians and Israelis have safety and Lebanese and Israelis living on the northern border find security and safety as well," US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters.
When asked if Israel had told the US that it was going to carry out an incursion into Lebanon, Thomas-Greenfield said she would not discuss US-Israel talks but that the two countries were in close contact. - Agencies
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