United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday called for a halt to the mutual attacks between Israel and Hezbollah along the border between Israel and Lebanon, expressing concern over the risk of a "wider conflict with devastating consequences for the region."

In a statement, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said, "With the ongoing exchange of fire along the Blue Line, the Secretary-General once again calls on the parties to urgently cease fire."

He added that Guterres fears this "exchange of fire could lead to a wider conflict with dire consequences for the region."

The Secretary-General regretted that "we have already lost hundreds of lives, tens of thousands have been displaced, and homes and livelihoods have been destroyed on both sides of the Blue Line."