At a Beirut press conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the devastation from US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which has caused significant regional destruction over the past two weeks. He noted Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket attacks on Israel in support of Tehran led to a “devastating” Israeli bombing campaign, leaving parts of Lebanon “uninhabitable.”
Guterres stressed that the Lebanese people did not choose this conflict, saying, “The Lebanese people did not choose this war. They were dragged into it.” He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, stating that the Middle East conflict has no military solution and requires a diplomatic resolution per the UN Charter.
He acknowledged the impact on both sides of the Blue Line, dividing southern Lebanon and northern Israel, monitored by UNIFIL under a Security Council mandate. Israelis sought shelter from Hezbollah’s rockets, while Lebanon suffered severe casualties, including hundreds killed, many of whom were children.
Over 800,000 people have been displaced from southern conflict areas and parts of southern Beirut due to comprehensive Israeli evacuation orders. Visiting a shelter, Guterres expressed sorrow over the displaced individuals’ accounts, highlighting that a ceasefire agreement from over a year ago did not halt ongoing violence, as both Hezbollah and Israeli forces violated the ceasefire.
He praised UNIFIL peacekeepers who have faced gunfire, stating, “Attacks against peacekeepers and positions are completely unacceptable and must cease.” Guterres acknowledged the Lebanese Government’s decision to enforce a “monopoly of arms,” urging Hezbollah to comply with this and other Security Council disarmament directives.
Guterres visited a Ghanaian peacekeeper in the hospital, injured while serving with UNIFIL amid the renewed southern Lebanon hostilities. He urged the international community to enhance involvement, stating, “Empower the Lebanese State and support the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure they have the necessary capabilities and resources.”
He encouraged generous responses to the UN’s humanitarian appeal to aid the Government’s efforts. “The people of Lebanon, as well as those in Israel and across the region, deserve to live without fear and raise their children free from the sounds of sirens and strikes. They should be able to return home without the anxiety of having to flee again,” he said.
Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to support Lebanon’s people and institutions: “Together, we will not spare any effort in working towards the peaceful future that Lebanon and this region so justly deserve.”
Leave a Reply