Lebanese foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib called on Thursday to end violence in the Middle East in an appeal to the UN General Assembly in New York.

“This is a situation that requires international intervention on an urgent basis before the situation spirals out of control, with a domino effect, making this crisis impossible to contain,” Mr Bou Habib said in his address at the assembly. “The future of our people and our prosperity are imperilled.”

He also called on Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia to take “all possible measures” to ensure that a ceasefire proposal is accepted.

Following months of cross-border skirmishes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, which says it acts out of solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, Israel began an intense aerial campaign to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Monday – with the region now on the brink of all-out war.

Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands of people displaced in Lebanon since Israel began its massive bombardment four days ago.

International efforts are underway to negotiate a ceasefire, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied any plan had been agreed to and vowed to keep hitting Hezbollah with “full force.”

(dpa/NAN)