Pope warns Middle East could ‘sink into instability’ | World | News
The Pope has called for the “bombs to cease” in a message of peace amid the escalating US-Israeli campaign against Iran. In a social media message, Pope Leo XIV expressed “deep dismay” at the conflict in the Middle East and warned that the region “may once again sink into instability”.
He wrote on X: “Reports from #Iran and across the entire #MiddleEast continue to cause deep dismay and raise the fear that the conflict will expand, and that other countries in the region, including dear Lebanon, may once again sink into instability. Let us #PrayTogether for the roar of bombs to cease, weapons to fall silent, and space to open for dialogue, in which people’s voices may be heard.”
In another update, the IDF said its soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon and are positioned at several points near the border area as part of an enhanced forward defence posture.
It said: “We are conducting targeted strikes against Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure. Hezbollah chose to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime, and it will bear the consequences of its actions.”
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A senior military official said on Thursday that Israeli ground forces were taking additional hilltops inside Lebanon to better protect Israel’s northern communities.
They said: “We may find ourselves manoeuvring into that area [south of the Litani river] in one capacity or another and we don’t want civilians there. We have plans to go as deep as needed, including to the Litani River and further, if instructed.”
On Friday morning, dozens of tanks and armoured bulldozers were seen newly positioned right by the Lebanese border as Israel pushes to take strategic positions.
Israel also issued an evacuation order for southern Lebanon, reaching roughly 16 miles inside the country.
