Keir Starmer issues terrifying warning over 'consequences' of Lebanon war

The Prime Minister used his speech at the United Nations last night to warn that war in Lebanon will result in "consequences that none of us can foresee".

Sir Keir told the General Assembly that freedom, justice and peace are increasingly feeling "like a distant hope".

He warned: "Around the world, more fires are breaking out and burning with even greater intensity."

"Exacting a terrible toll in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, and beyond."

The Prime Minister blasted the myriad conflicts as "a catastrophe made by human hands" that is now stalling global progress in tackling poverty and disease.

He repeated his blunt message to both Israel and Hizballah that they must "stop the violence" and "step back from the brink".

"Further escalation serves no one. It offers nothing but more suffering for innocent people on all sides.

"And the prospect of a wider war, that no one can control, and with consequences that none of us can foresee."

The speech came just hours after Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a crushing blow to hopes a ceasefire could take place and prevent a ground invasion of Lebanon by Israeli troops.

Landing in the US to address the UN, Mr Netanyahu vowed that his military will continue hitting terrorist resources and sites with "full force and we will not stop until we achieve all our goals, first and foremost returning the residents of the north safely to their homes."

The news defied the calls by Joe Biden and the US, Israel's biggest ally, after the President issued the call on Wednesday evening.

It was also reported that the Israeli premier's defiance was a 'walking back' from a private understanding he had given to Mr Biden.

The US ambassador to Israel Jack Law reiterated the plea yesterday [THURS] afternoon, criticising the "strikes and counter strikes [that] have driven people from their homes".

He tweeted: "Since Hezballah began its rocket attacks on Israel on October 8, round after round of strikes and counter strikes have driven people from their homes,"

"The unacceptable risk of broader regional escalation demands immediate action," he continues, arguing that the ceasefire backed by over a dozen countries "is the best way for diplomacy to restore safety for citizens to return to their homes.

"Conditions in the north of Israel and the south of Lebanon must change to permit their safe return. At the same time, we press forward every day for an agreement to release the hostages and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza."

Speaking to journalists ahead of his UN speech, Sir Keir Starmer described the joint demand by the UK and allies, released on Wednesday, as a "strong statement", adding that Britain had been involved in its drafting and release.

He argued: "It's consistent with what I've been saying for some time, consistent with what I said at the UN Security Council on Wednesday and is consistent with what I will be saying to the general assembly."

"This is the moment now where all parties need to pull back from the brink. There's a serious risk of escalation.

"We need to de-escalate and we need a ceasefire.

The PM added that the fact the ceasefire statement was signed by so many significant allies was "significant in its own right."

Sir Keir also used his UN General Assembly speech to warn that letting Ukraine fail "would be to confirm the worst claims about this place".

"That international law is merely a paper tiger, and that aggressors can do what they will."

He defiantly blasted: "We will never let that happen".

The PM met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, where it's understood the war leader presented the Prime Minister with his so-called "victory plan".

He refused to divulge details about the plan when pressed, saying that he wouldn't reveal whether he believes it's viable due to its extreme sensitivity.

"I'm not not answering because I don't think it's viable, don't get me wrong, these are pretty confidential and deeply sensitive discussions.

"I'm not trying to hide anything from you, but in fairness to a president who's at war I don't want to disclose anything.

"As and when he discloses what he discloses I will happily come back and talk to you about it."

He also told the UN that the institutions of peace are struggling due to underfunding, pressures and politicisation.

Looking to Iran he argued that the "entire framework of arms control and counter-proliferation... has begun to fall away".

Turning to Britain the Prime Minister said that the UK's successes cannot be separated from global events, and issues like climate change, poverty and pandemics must be tackled at their source.

He argued that global challenges "rebound on us at home, and to grapple only with the effects of war, poverty, climate change, pandemics, or irregular migration when they arrive on our doorstep is to set ourselves up to fail."