Horrific Of hamas. And after the horrific attack by hamas carried horrific attack by hamas carried out nearly a year ago today carried out nearly a year ago today the carried out nearly a year ago today the united states sent a clear today the united states sent a clear message to iran. Dont exploit clear message to iran. Dont exploit the situation in ways that exploit the situation in ways that would risk propelling the region that would risk propelling the region into a broader war. The Igc repeatedly ignored this warning. By encouraging and enabling warning. By encouraging and enabling the whole season yemen to disrupt enabling the whole season yemen to disrupt global Shipping And Launch to disrupt global Shipping And Launch attacks against israel, by supporting militant groups in syria by supporting militant groups in Syria And Iraq which repeatedly attacked american forces repeatedly attacked american forces engaged in the fight against isis, and by arming and encouraging hezbollah after its former encouraging hezbollah after its former leader made the decision on october seven to open the Northerh on october seven to open the Northern Front against israel. They Northern Front against israel. They can Northern Front against israel. They can be No Doubt iranian sopport they can be No Doubt iranian support to regional proxies has directly support to regional proxies has directly contributed to the crisis directly contributed to the crisis in directly contributed to the crisis In Gaza and lebanon. At the Centre Crisis In Gaza and lebanon. At the centre Of efforts since october launching ballistic missiles to avenge the death Of since the centre Of efforts since october the centre Of efforts since october seven to sow chaos and the centre Of efforts since october seven to sow chaos and threaten october seven to sow chaos and threaten regional stability is threaten october seven to sow chaos and threaten regional stability is the Igc the Igc threaten regional stability is the Igc which is repeatedly threaten regional stability is the Igc which is repeatedly fronted the Igc which is repeatedly fronted the Igc which is repeatedly fronted and violated this fronted and violated this councils resolutions. I cant councils resolutions. I cant believe believe councils resolutions. I cant believe i councils resolutions. I cant believe i have to say this but councils resolutions. I cant believe i councils resolutions. I cant believe i have to say this but i believe i have to say this but i believe i have to say this but iwiii, believe i have to say this but i will, because the Igc and its iwiii, believe i have to say this but i will, because the Igc and its allies i will, because the Igc and its allies are i will, because the Igc and its allies i will, because the Igc and its allies are i will, because the Igc and its allies are out peddling allies are out peddling propaganda, the decision to propaganda, the decision to launch launch propaganda, the decision to launch nearly 200 ballistic propaganda, the decision to launch nearly 200 ballistic missiles at israel was not in missiles at israel was not in any missiles at israel was not in any missiles at israel was not in any way any way missiles at israel was not in any way defensive. The Igc was missiles at israel was not in any way defensive. The Igc was not protecting iran from not protecting iran from threats not protecting iran from threats from another member threats not protecting iran from threats from another member state. State. Threats from another member state, instead the Igc was acting threats from another member state, instead the Igc was acting state, instead the Igc was acting in state, instead the Igc was acting in solidarity with state, instead the Igc was acting in state, instead the Igc was acting in solidarity with hezbollah after the killing Of hezbollah after the killing Of hassan hezbollah after the killing Of Hassan Nasrallah who Led A hassan hezbollah after the killing Of Hassan Nasrallah who Led A terrorist Hassan Nasrallah who Led A Terrorist Group that has the terrorist Hassan Nasrallah who Led A Terrorist Group that has the Blood Terrorist Group that has the blood Of Terrorist Group that has the blood Of thousands Of americans Blood Terrorist Group that has the blood Of Terrorist Group that has the blood Of thousands Of americans and Lebanese And Israeli is on and Lebanese And Israeli is on his hands his hands and Lebanese And Israeli is on and Lebanese And Israeli is on his hands. I Cant Think Of no his hands. I Cant Think Of no starker his hands. I Cant Think Of no starker example Of state his hands. ICant Think Of no starker his hands. I Cant Think Of no starker example Of State Support Of Terrorism And Support Of terrorism and launching ballistic missiles to launching ballistic missiles to avenge launching ballistic missiles to avenge the death Of a avenge launching ballistic missiles to avenge the death Of a terrorist ieader~ avenge the death Of a terrorist ieader~ it avenge the death Of a terrorist leader. It is indefensible and it is leader. It is indefensible and it is unacceptable. We have the collective it is unacceptable. We have the collective responsibility as members Of the Security Council to impose members Of the Security Council to impose additional sanctions on the to impose additional sanctions on the Igc for supporting terrorism and affronting so many terrorism and affronting so many Of terrorism and affronting so many Of this councils resolutions. If this council sits resolutions. If this council sits on resolutions. If this council sits on its hands what message will that sits on its hands what message will that send . I fear that siience will that send . I fear that Silence And Inaction will only invite Silence And Inaction will only invite the Igc to repeat attacks invite the Igc to repeat attacks like what We Saw yesterday and on April 13 Of this yesterday and on April 13 Of this Year Yesterday and on April 13 Of this year again and again. We meet this year again and again. We meet at this year again and again. We meet at the moment when there is a heightened risk Of countries in the region being dragged countries in the region being dragged into a broader conflict. This includes lebanon. The intensified fighting over the last week has displaced nearly A Million people displaced nearly A Million people and we mourn the many civiiians people and we mourn the many civilians who have been killed. We also civilians who have been killed. We also recognise that for nearly we also recognise that for nearly a we also recognise that for nearly a Year Israel has repeatedly called for the full as repeatedly called for the full as we i safety and security. As we pursue safety and security. As we pursue this diplomatic solution we reiterate our call on all parties we reiterate our call on all parties to protect civilians. We also parties to protect civilians. We also underscore our support and emphasised that all parties must and emphasised that all parties must ensure your Field Personnel remain secure. Colleagues, we are also committed to doing everything possible to end the war In Gaza where possible to end the war In Gaza where palestinian civilians have where palestinian civilians have been caught in the cross hairs have been caught in the cross hairs Of have been caught in the cross hairs Of war. That is why we are hairs Of war. That is why we are working to bring about a ceasefire are working to bring about a Ceasefire Deal with release Of hostages consistent with resolution 2735. The events Of the past resolution 2735. The events Of the past week should send an an ambiguous message to the leadership Of hamas which continues to cower in tunnels beneath continues to cower in tunnels beneath gaza. Hezbollah and iran beneath gaza. Hezbollah and iran wiii beneath gaza. Hezbollah and iran will not rescue you. The only iran will not rescue you. The only Path Iran will not rescue you. The only path forward is a ceasefire agreement. We must double ceasefire agreement. We must double down on diplomatic solutions that would ensure the safety solutions that would ensure the safety Of solutions that would ensure the safety Of people across the Region Safety Of people across the region. As we do, they should be no region. As we do, they should be No Doubt the united states will continue to support israels will continue to support israels right to defend itself against israels right to defend itself against hezbollah, hamas and any other iranian supported terrorists. Of course, how israel terrorists. Of course, how israel defends itself matters. We continue to make clear that measures we continue to make clear that measures must be taken to minimise measures must be taken to minimise civilian harm. As president biden emphasised following yesterdays attack, the united states is fully supportive Of israel. Our actions supportive Of israel. Our actions have been defensive in nature actions have been defensive in nature. Let me be clear, the iranian nature. Let me be clear, the iranian regime will be held responsible for its actions and we strongly warn against iran or its we strongly warn against iran or its proxies taking actions against or its proxies taking actions against the united states or further against the united states or further actions against israel. Colleagues, this moment Of great colleagues, this moment Of great risk is a test Of this council great risk is a test Of this council. It is imperative that we unequivocally condemn Irans Attack we unequivocally condemn Irans Attack and we unequivocally condemn Irans Attack and demand it cease its Support Attack and demand it cease its support for terrorism in the Area Support for terrorism in the area. People in Israeland Support for terrorism in the area. People in Israel And Gaza and the area. People in Israel And Gaza and the West Bank and lebanon and the West Bank and lebanon and across the region deserve a durable and across the region deserve a durable peace and it is far past durable peace and it is far past time for this council to hold past time for this council to hold iran past time for this council to hold iran accountable for fanning hold iran accountable for fanning the flames Of war. Thank fanning the flames Of war. Thank you madam president. The us thank you madam president. Iie us ambassador thank you madam president. Tie us ambassador outlining thank you madam president. Ti9 us ambassador outlining the moment we have arrived at and the risks and seeing how his will defends itself does matter but repeating the us fully support israel. That is how she phrased it. She said our actions have been defensive in Nature But Iran will be held responsible for those events Of yesterday. The korean representative to speaking. Let me return to what you are seeing on the screen before i talk to Paul Adams our correspondent because the idf saying in the two minutes that seven soldiers have been killed in the fighting in Southern Lebanon. That linejust lebanon. That line just breaking lebanon. That linejust breaking in the last few minutes. Lets bring in our diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams. That i suppose is the obvious worry Of any incursion by israel into lebanon, they get drawn into fighting and get drawn into Casualties. Yes. Get drawn into fighting and get drawn into Casualties. Drawn into Casualties. Yes. If we are looking drawn into Casualties. Yes. If we are looking at drawn into Casualties. Yes. If we are looking at a drawn into Casualties. Yes. If we are looking at a single we are looking at a single incident in which seven soldiers were killed that is going to cause great concern about the circumstances. We dont have any details but we are now being told that eight soldiers, seven now and one earlier, have been confirmed as dead and that is within 36 hours Of this major phase Of the Ground Operation in Southern Lebanon getting under way. It is a reminder Of the sheer difficulty that the israeli army is going to face as it goes in is what it describes in this limited way although we are seeing more troops being brought up to join that fight. The dangers we could see weeks and weeks Of this and which israeli soldiers will be killed. Of course they have had a year Of action In Gaza in which also a significant number Of israeli soldiers have been killed. So israel has sort Of developed toughness when it comes to Casualties they might not have had a year ago. But still, that is a sign that hezbollah is there. Before Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated he said to israel bring it on, if you want to come into Southern Lebanon we are ready for you and we know what to do. Maybe this is the first evidence Of that. You have reported the first evidence Of that. You have reported in the first evidence Of that. You have reported in the the first evidence Of that. You have reported in the region for decades. It is still unclear as we are talking just the scale Of this invasion and how far they have gone. We know there is extensive tunnels in the sandstone, this is going to be very challenging phase. Sandstone, this is going to be very challenging phase. Yes. If they want very challenging phase. Yes. If they want to very challenging phase. Yes. If they want to essentially very challenging phase. Yes. If they want to essentially do they want to essentially do what they did In Gaza which is to go after complete victory in Southern Lebanon and there is every indication they do, if you look back to where we were three weeks ago since then youve had an absolutely phenomenal unprecedented israeli attack on hezbollah from the exploding pages to the assassination Of leaders to massive Air Strikes that have displaced 1 Million people and now some kind Of full scale ground invasion. This suggests the israeli government is determined to destroy hezbollah. Notjust the kind Of dented capabilities but to really deliver a significant blow that would essentially render it incapable Of posing any kind Of threat for israel for the foreseeable future. That is a massive undertaking. It is full Of the challenges you described and its difficult terrain, Terrain Hezbollah fighters no intimately. Many israelis will have better members Of the 20 years they spent trying to deal with this threat until the year 2000. In those Days Israel really hoped it wasnt going to have to go back in. In it wasnt going to have to go back in. . It wasnt going to have to go back in... back in. In parallelto that, wevejust back in. In parallelto that, weve just been back in. In parallelto that, weve just been talking back in. In parallelto that, i weve just been talking about that operation in lebanon and is still going on In Gaza and our promise that he will hit iran. What do you think potentially as they try to work out what it is in terms Of the scale Of the response, what do you think is likely to be on the table . You think is likely to be on the table . , the table . You get the sense this government the table . You get the sense this government is the table . You get the sense i this government is improvising and for the last few weeks from and for the last few weeks from an israeli Point Of View is improvised brilliantly. One tactical victory after another. But where is any Of this heading . The israeli government has shown increasing appetite for risk over the past 12 months, and appetite which has accelerated in the last two weeks at a time when iran, we thought until yesterday, didnt have quite the same appetite. Yesterday, iran sort Of reacted the way it felt it had to react with a massive display Of strength, much more ominous and alarming than what they did in the middle Of april. So iran is trying to say to israel, we can match you when it comes to risk. But i do think the government Of Benjamin Netanyahu is Hell Bent on a significant, almost a region altering victory, over the proxies like a Mass And Hezbollah and their back in iran. That is a path you cant quite see The End Of. I iran. That is a path you cant quite see The End Of. Quite see The End Of. I was talkin quite see The End Of. I was talking to quite see The End Of. I was talking to a quite see The End Of. I was talking to a guest quite see The End Of. I was| talking to a Guest Yesterday and he was making the point that he was getting increasingly concerned every time he had the growing talk within israel Of a moment where they could change the dynamic in the region become, he said every time he has heard that historically it ended in disaster. Historically it ended in disaster. ,.... disaster. Its not hard to hear echoes Of disaster. Its not hard to hear echoes Of the disaster. Its not hard to hear echoes Of the talk disaster. Its not hard to hear echoes Of the talk among echoes Of the talk among american circles after 9 11 and before the invasion Of iraq and an opportunity to reshape the Middle East and look where that led. I am Middle East and look where that led. Lam not Middle East and look where that led. I am not saying what we are hearing at the moment quite matches that but when Benjamin Netanyahu made the peculiar address to the iranian people a couple Of nights ago he was almost inviting them to join him in some kind Of regime changing moment. Israel cant invade iran, thats not going to happen. It can certainly do a great deal more damage and so far all its done is go after some Air Defences back in april. Maybe they destroy huge swathes Of Irans Air defences or they start doing actual damage to the iranian infrastructure. Damage to the iranian infrastructure. , infrastructure. For very long time in the infrastructure. For very long time in the region infrastructure. For very long time in the Region Youve i infrastructure. For very long l time in the Region Youve had this established equation where most Of the conflict was done by proxies and in a Sense Iran was one step removed. Hezbollah was one step removed. Hezbollah was always the cover. Most Of that has been taken away so how strong actually a position is to iran is if the fight comes directly to them . Massively we can win because directly to them . Massively we can w