Parolin: I would tell Trump and the Israelis to leave Lebanon alone

Speaking about the "imminent danger of escalation," Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said that if he were face to face with U.S. President Donald Trump and the Israelis, he would tell them to "leave Lebanon alone," as Israeli attacks on the country have killed nearly 1,000 people since March 2.

Appearing before the Italian Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, Parolin was asked by journalists about the situation in the Middle East and what he would say to Donald Trump if he met him. "I would tell him to end the war as soon as possible because the danger of escalation is truly imminent. I would say to leave Lebanon alone," said the Vatican’s top diplomat.

He went on to say that this message should also be "addressed to the Israelis" so that they make a real effort to "resolve the problems that may exist, or that they believe exist, through the peaceful means of diplomacy and dialogue," Parolin added, according to comments reported by the Vatican News website.

The United States and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, which responded by targeting Israel and U.S. and Israeli military bases, installations, and infrastructure in the Gulf.

Two days after the war began, Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel, opening a new front in the regional war. Since then, Israeli attacks have killed 968 people in Lebanon, wounded more than 2,400, and internally displaced one million, provoking a humanitarian catastrophe.

Over the past two weeks, Pope Leo XIV has spoken out repeatedly about the war throughout the region and in Lebanon, calling for an end to hostilities. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paolo Borgia has visited Christian villages in southern Lebanon three times, whose residents have remained despite Israeli evacuation orders and deadly strikes, to deliver humanitarian aid.

Parolin : Je dirais à Trump et aux Israéliens de laisser le Liban tranquille