NEW YORK, Sept 25 — World leaders at the UN urged Israel to avoid a full-scale war in Lebanon, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the situation was on the “brink.” 

Lebanese authorities reported 558 deaths, including 50 children, from Israeli strikes. US President Joe Biden emphasized that a diplomatic solution remains the only path to lasting peace, but his remarks were met with disappointment from Lebanon's foreign minister Abdullah Bou Habib, who estimated up to half a million people were displaced.

Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel wasn’t seeking a ground invasion of Lebanon, while Guterres warned of the risk of Lebanon becoming "another Gaza."

The situation is further complicated by ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, which have failed so far. Biden called for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas, while leaders like Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar's Emir condemned Israel's actions.

European Council President Charles Michel stressed Israel’s right to defend itself without collective punishment, and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the UN's inaction. Meanwhile, Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned against the forced displacement of Palestinians. 

Amid these tensions, Ukraine’s conflict with Russia was also discussed, with President Zelensky calling for Russia to be “forced into peace.