The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, announced on Friday that he plans to travel to Washington later this month amid growing concerns over the Middle East crisis. Speaking in Geneva, Turk expressed doubts about the impact his visit might have on the trajectory of the conflict.
“I hope to go to Washington D.C. later this month, and we will see what this will bring,” Turk told reporters. “To be honest, I don’t think it’s in any way meaningful in terms of influencing the current trajectory.”
He called on international actors to rapidly de-escalate the regional conflict, now entering its seventh day following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 5, 2026. REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Lebanon Faces Mass Evacuations
Turk voiced serious concern over large-scale evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army for southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, warning that they may violate international humanitarian law.
“These blanket, massive displacement orders… involve hundreds and thousands of people,” he said. “This raises serious concern under international humanitarian law, and in particular when it comes to issues around forced transfer.”
The evacuations come after Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on Hezbollah-controlled areas. Hezbollah, in turn, warned Israelis near the border to leave towns within 5 km (3 miles). Lebanon has now emerged as a key flashpoint in the wider conflict.
A view of a damaged building after an Israeli strike, following renewed hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon, March 6, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer
Strikes on Iranian Schools Draw Human Rights Concerns
Turk also addressed the strike on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, which reportedly killed 150 students. He emphasized that schools are civilian institutions that should never be targeted and called for an impartial investigation into the strike.
“From a human rights perspective, any killing of anyone is not in the interest of international human rights law,” Turk said. He noted that U.S. military investigators are still reviewing the incident but have not reached a final conclusion.
A view of a damaged building after an Israeli strike, following renewed hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon, March 6, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer
Urgent Call for De-escalation
Turk warned that Lebanon’s situation could ignite further instability across the region if hostilities continue.
“Cool heads must prevail if we are to prevent further terror and devastation for civilians,” he said. “Lebanon is becoming a key flashpoint… I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. We cannot afford for more powder kegs to ignite.”
