The sudden and massive escalation between Israel and the Hezbollah armed group in Lebanon has created widespread fear that even worse is to come, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

'We are witnessing the deadliest period in Lebanon in a generation and many expressed their fear that this is just the beginning,' said Imran Riza, the UN's top aid official in Lebanon. 'The UN and its partners are closely coordinating with the Lebanese government to support the response efforts. This includes aligning aid distribution, conducting joint assessments, and identifying urgent needs for affected populations.'