Keir Starmer calls for end to 'devastating cycle of violence' as UK backs push for ceasefire in Lebanon

In his archetypal code to the UN General Assembly successful New York, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Israel and Hezbollah indispensable 'step backmost from the brink' to forestall all-out war

Keir Starmer contiguous called for an extremity to the “devastating rhythm of violence” successful the Middle East arsenic the UK backed a high-stakes propulsion for a ceasefire successful Lebanon.

In his archetypal code to the UN General Assembly successful New York, the Prime Minister said Israel and Hezbollah indispensable “step backmost from the brink” to forestall all-out war. The UK joined allies including the US and the EU to request a 21-day ceasefire successful Lebanon to springiness abstraction to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

A associated connection said: "The concern betwixt Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable hazard of a broader determination escalation. This is successful nobody's interest, neither of the radical of Israel nor of the radical of Lebanon."

But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said his subject would proceed to onslaught Hezbollah with “full force” arsenic helium touched down successful New York.

The UK has been portion of aggravated diplomatic efforts to stem the struggle arsenic Mr Starmer made his archetypal sojourn to the UN arsenic Prime Minister. In a nonstop code to Israel and Hezbollah, Mr Starmer said: “Stop the violence. Step backmost from the brink.

“We request to spot an contiguous ceasefire to supply abstraction for a diplomatic colony and we are moving with each partners to that end. Because further escalation serves nary one.

“It offers thing but much suffering for guiltless radical connected each sides and the imaginable of a wider warfare that nary 1 tin control. And with consequences that nary of america tin foresee.”

The PM called for an contiguous ceasefire successful Gaza, adding: “It shames america each that the suffering successful Gaza continues to grow.” He went on: “The reply is diplomacy. The merchandise of each the hostages.

“And the unfettered travel of assistance to those successful need. That is the lone mode to interruption this devastating rhythm of violence.”

It comes arsenic the Israel Defence Forces said the caput of 1 of Hezbollah's aerial units was killed successful a onslaught connected a confederate suburb successful Beirut. In a station published connected X, the IDF said "fighter jets attacked Beirut and killed Mohammad Hussein Surur".

The IDF said Surur had joined Hezbollah successful the 1980s and "directed and commanded" galore drone attacks aimed astatine Israel. It has been 24 years since the Israeli service near confederate Lebanon, ending 22 years of occupation.

But Israel’s apical general, Herzi Halevi, is telling his troops to beryllium acceptable to “enter force territory”. Israel said it deed 75 Hezbollah targets overnight, successful the Bekaa portion adjacent to Syria.

The IDF reported that pursuing sirens successful bluish Israel, astir 45 rocket launches were detected from Lebanon. Almost each were intercepted.

In Lebanon 23 radical were killed successful the municipality of Younine. The section mayor, Mayor Ali Qusas said they were mostly women and children, who were successful an flat block.

Areas astir the bluish Israeli metropolis of Kiryat Shmona person been deed by rockets launched by Hezbollah Around 10 rockets were fired into the country but immoderate were intercepted.

British nationals person been urged to permission Lebanon portion determination are inactive commercialized flights, with astir 4,000 to 6,000 Brits believed to beryllium inactive successful the country. The Prime Minister has urged radical to permission instantly and the UK has deployed 700 troops to adjacent Cyprus to assistance with evacuation if necessary.

Downing Street said the UK stands acceptable to ramp up contingency plans to get Brits retired if the concern deteriorates.

Mr Starmer told journalists this week: “Yes, we are ramping up the contingency plans, I deliberation that you would expect that successful airy of the escalation. But it is important that we beryllium really, truly clear: present is the clip to leave."