High-ranking officials in the Biden administration and others assert that there is "no interest" from either the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Lebanon’s Hezbollah in initiating a broad war across the Blue Line, despite the heightened potential for "miscalculations" due to current military operations.

Despite numerous complaints lodged by both the Lebanese and Israeli sides since October 7th of last year, the UN Security Council has not convened any emergency sessions to address the tense situation on the ground.

The reciprocal complaints between Lebanon and Israel mirror the escalating tension on both sides of the border and concerns about the repercussions of the Gaza conflict on Lebanon.

Hezbollah's ongoing targeting of Israeli military sites has led to the deaths of approximately 20 Israeli soldiers and civilians. In response, Israel has conducted focused operations resulting in the fatalities of over 200 Hezbollah members and officials, as well as a number of Hamas leaders in various regions of Lebanon, accompanied by numerous civilian casualties.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq informed that the UN Security Council has not called an emergency session as neither party involved has requested it from the council's member states. Regular sessions are being held to assess the enforcement of resolutions, particularly Resolutions 1559 and 1701, and to address reports from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as cited by Haq in his statement to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Lebanon’s Complaint

Hadi Hashem, as the Acting Head of the Lebanese Mission to the United Nations, has recently submitted a new complaint regarding "Israeli attacks on secure residential areas in Baalbek and Keserwan.” He has expressed concerns about "Israeli intentions to escalate the conflict and pull the entire region into war”.

Hashem has appealed to the international community to "exert pressure on Israel to cease its ongoing escalating attacks.”

The Israeli Threat

Despite the Israeli side's complaints to the Security Council, which carry a threatening tone, the Council members have not called for an emergency meeting. This comes amidst continued US pressure to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, a US official stated that one of the primary strategic goals pursued by the Biden administration is to prevent an expansion of the war, not only in Lebanon but also in Yemen, the Red Sea, and the wider Middle East region.

Concerns raised by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding the situation along the Blue Line have not been alleviated by American efforts in that regard.

In his recent report regarding the enforcement of UN Resolution 1701, slated for discussion by the Security Council next Tuesday, the author conveys "serious concern" regarding the continued breaches of the ceasefire since October 8th. This comes amid repeated instances of hostilities between Hezbollah, other non-governmental armed groups in Lebanon, and Israel. He emphasizes that this situation presents "a significant threat to the stability of Lebanon, Israel, and the region." He advocates for "a political process to address the underlying causes of the conflict" centered on the comprehensive implementation of Resolution 1701.

Militarization of the Refugee Camps

Guterres reiterated strong condemnation of all violations of Lebanese sovereignty by Israel, calling on the latter to "cease all overflights over Lebanese territory," he also denounced "any violation of Israeli sovereignty from Lebanon."

He warned of the prolonged vacuum in the country’s top state post urging what he termed "Lebanon's political class" to "take decisive steps towards electing a president to address pressing political issues, economic necessities, and security challenges facing the country.

Amid international anger over the Hamas attack in Israel, and the latter’s “punishing” retaliation on Palestinians in Gaza and the escalating tension emerging on the border with Lebanon, UN officials raise concerns over what they say is the “militarization” of the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

“Armed groups must never seize educational institutions and other UN facilities for military purposes," said Guterres following a mobilization call launched by Hamas in the refugee camps in Lebanon.