'One horror doesn't justify another' EU's Josep Borrell tells Lebanon

The European Union's top diplomat says "nobody will win" if the Israel-Hamas conflict spreads across the Middle East. Josep Borrell met with Lebanon's foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib in Beirut on Saturday. Borrell said there was a "worrying intensification of exchange of fire" across Lebanon's border with Israel. "It's absolutely necessary to avoid Lebanon being dragged into a regional conflict," said Borrell. "It is imperative to avoid a regional escalation."

Hezbollah militants in Lebanon say they fired more than 60 rockets at an Israeli observation post yesterday. The group says the attack was a "preliminary response" to the death of Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy chief of Hamas. That group launched the October 7 attacks which sparked Israel's assault on Gaza. Arouri was killed in a drone strike in Beirut on Tuesday. Hezbollah blames Israel for his death, although it has not accepted responsibility for the strike. 

'Only peace will bring security'

Borrell called for calm on Saturday, saying he spoke to Habib about "ways to avert a war that will have terrible consequences regionally and internationally." Hezbollah has repeatedly launched rockets into Israel since the October 7 attacks, saying it's acting "in solidarity" with Hamas. But Borrell says all sides must put diplomacy first. "One horror doesn't justify another. And we have to understand that only peace will bring safety and security to the Middle East."

Israel's military says it responded to the latest rocket fire with a drone strike on "the terrorist cell responsible for the launches." It also ordered a series of air strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. The group has confirmed that five of its fighters were killed in those strikes.

Diplomatic efforts continue

Borrell is due to meet with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Sunday. The European Union's diplomatic service says he will "discuss all aspects of the situation in and around Gaza, including its impact on the region." U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also in the Middle East, urging Arab states to play a role in the governance and reconstruction of Gaza. Blinken met with officials in Jordan before leaving for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Israel continues its attacks inside Gaza. Officials at its health ministry said on Sunday 113 Palestinians had been killed and 250 injured over the past 24 hours. Hospital staff in Khan Younis say 50 people died during strikes on homes in that city.  The health ministry says the death toll from three months of conflict is now more than 22,700.

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