An Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon could spark a refugee and radicalisation crisis in Britain and Europe, Lebanon’s ambassador to the UK has warned.
Rami Mortada, who represents the country in London, said Lebanon’s British-trained armed forces would rule out “standing idly” and watching on if Israel launched a land or air assault on its neighbour to the north.
He also warned of the prospect of Iran and its proxy militias in Yemen, Iraq and Syria all joining the conflict should the crisis escalate even further.
His comments followed a double-headed attack – believed to be of Israeli doing – on pagers and walkie-talkies owned by Lebanese terror group-cum-political party Hezbollah on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hezbollah members took to the streets to mourn their dead after the Mossad-backed pager bombs
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Israeli jets began pounding Hezbollah following the pager and walkie-talkie bombings
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Almost 40 people were killed in the two waves of blasts after Israel’s Mossad spy agency planted small amounts of explosives inside 5,000 devices – a plot months in the making.
On Thursday, Mortada told The Times: “We are facing all the risks of an all-out regional conflict, and that’s what we have been tirelessly trying to avoid.
“Let’s hope that we don’t get there because this is a doomsday scenario for everyone. It’s definitely a doomsday for Lebanon, but Lebanon will not hurt alone in this war… That’s what recent history taught us. So all efforts should be focused on avoiding such an outcome.”
He added that any such “doomsday” would have a direct impact on Britain and Europe – sparking a fresh migration and radicalisation crisis.
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Israeli missiles struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Thursday and Friday
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“There are many dangerous aspects for the Middle East that could get as far as Europe and beyond,” Mortada said.
But the spillover wouldn’t just wreak migration havoc – a war involving both Israeli and the Lebanese armed forces – the latter of which opposes but does not challenge Hezbollah – would pose a diplomatic nightmare for the UK, which provides backing to both.
In the midst of such a nightmare would be Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who on Friday morning convened an emergency Cobra meeting to ensure Britain stood prepared for any and all eventualities of a conflict, including whether the UK was ready to evacuate any British nationals in Lebanon.
He chaired the emergency sit-down after calling for an immediate ceasefire “from both sides” after meeting his French, American and Italian counterparts for talks in Paris on Thursday.
Lammy chaired the emergency sit-down after calling for an immediate ceasefire “from both sides” in Paris
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Emmanuel Macron held phone calls with top political and military leaders from Lebanon on Thursday
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Lammy said: “We are all very, very clear that we want to see a negotiated political settlement so that Israelis can return to their homes in northern Israel – and indeed Lebanese to return to their homes.”
The Cobra meeting followed similar meetings in France, where President Emmanuel Macron held phone calls with top political and military leaders from Lebanon – a country once administered by the French.
But after the talks in the West, Israeli fighter jets proceeded to pound Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon late last night, striking hundreds of rocket launcher barrels which were set to be used to immediately fire toward Israeli territory, Israel’s military said.