Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati headed on Tuesday to New York after Israel launched one of its deadliest attacks in decades on Lebanon.

Mikati, who had previously canceled his trip to New York, is heading there “to make further contacts” in view of the current developments, according to a statement from his office.

Tuesday is the first day of the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly that will continue through September 28 and conclude on September 30, 2024.

Israel on Monday launched one of its massive cross border attacks on Lebanon, mainly targeting south Lebanon, Bekaa and Baalbek. The Israeli military said that it was striking Hezbollah targets and its artillery that it claimed are stored in civilian buildings.

Lebanon’s health ministry said that 492 people have been killed, including 35 children and 58 women, and 1,645 people wounded.

Mikati on Saturday had announced that he was going to cancel his New York trip after Israel targeted Hezbollah members by detonating their pagers and walkie-talkies as well as killing senior Hezbollah figure, Ibrahim Aqil, who headed the group’s elite Radwan Force.