United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Beirut on Friday for what he described as a visit of “solidarity” with Lebanon, cutting short a stay in Turkey where he had joined Muslims observing Ramadan and urged global efforts to combat anti-Muslim prejudice.

Guterres, a longtime Portuguese Socialist leader, has frequently spoken about the spiritual significance of Islam and the observance of Ramadan. He has argued that the values associated with the holy month reflect a broader vision of hope and peace that could benefit societies around the world.

According to AFP, Guterres’ trip to Lebanon comes as humanitarian conditions deteriorate in the country, where more than 800,000 people have been displaced amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group.

“I have just landed in Beirut for a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. They did not choose this war. They were dragged into it,” the United Nations secretary-general revealed on X.

“The UN and I will spare no effort in striving for the peaceful future that Lebanon and this region so richly deserve.”

The United Nations said that during Guterres’ visit it plans to launch an emergency funding appeal to assist people affected by the fighting. At the same time, the U.N.’s migration agency said it urgently needs $19 million to sustain its operations in Lebanon over the next three months.

“Humanitarian needs are rising faster than the response,” Mathieu Luciano, the Lebanon mission chief for the International Organization for Migration, told reporters in Geneva per AFP.

Lebanon entered the conflict in the Middle East over the past week when Hezbollah, backed by Iran, began launching attacks on Israel from Lebanese territory following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Israel responded by widening its military operations in Lebanon on Friday, striking multiple targets. Among them was a bridge spanning the Litani River that Israeli officials said Hezbollah had been using as a route for moving its fighters.

At the same time, Hezbollah continued launching new attacks against Israeli forces despite repeated calls from the international community for the group to disarm.

{Matzav.com}