Germany warns about regional escalation, urges diplomatic solution in Lebanon

​​​​​​​ISTANBUL

Germany expressed concern Saturday about the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, urging diplomatic solutions to prevent a regional conflagration.

The German government highlighted in a statement the plight of Lebanese civilians caught in the crossfire, emphasizing that many are uninvolved in the conflict but live in fear and terror.

"The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah must not turn into a regional conflagration," it warned, stressing that such an outcome would have "terrible and long-term consequences" for the entire region.

Berlin insisted that further escalation was not inevitable and urged a diplomatic resolution.

The statement emphasized that all parties involved bear a responsibility for seeking a peaceful solution to the crisis.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of the Israeli war against Gaza, which has killed nearly 41,400 victims, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.