UN chief sounds alarm about ‘devastating consequences’ of Saudi-Lebanon conflict

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has voiced serious concern about escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, warning of "devastating consequences" if a war breaks out between the two countries.

"We are indeed very worried, and we hope we won’t see an escalation," the UN chief told reporters in New York. "It is essential that no new conflict erupts in the region, it could have devastating consequences."

His comments come amid rising tension between the regime in Riyadh and the Lebanese government over the past few days. Guterres said he had "very intense" contacts with officials in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and other countries in the region, insisting it was necessary to avoid any fresh tensions in the conflict-hit Middle East.

In related news, the secretary general of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, said on Friday that Saudi rulers had clearly and openly declared war against Lebanon by holding the country’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri hostage in Riyadh.

According to many political experts and diplomats, Saudi Arabia, which had earlier accused Beirut of declaring war against Riyadh, has been engaged in “provocative” and "aggressive" behavior against countries such as Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar and Iran.

SS