UN Secretary-General Demands End to Israeli Military Actions in Lebanon
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On January 17, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon during a visit to UNIFIL. He emphasized the need for the international community to support Lebanese Armed Forces and condemned attacks against peacekeepers amid the ongoing conflict.
Key Takeaways
- Guterres urges Israel to stop military actions in Lebanon.
- UNIFIL has discovered over 100 weapons caches linked to Hezbollah.
- International support for Lebanese Armed Forces is crucial.
- Assaults on peacekeepers are violations of international law.
- Lebanese Armed Forces are key to national security.
Beirut, Jan 17 (NationPress) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged a cessation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
While addressing peacekeepers at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters in southern Lebanon, Guterres stated, "The ongoing occupation by the Israel Defense Forces within the UNIFIL operational area, along with military maneuvers on Lebanese soil, contravenes resolution 1701 and presents a persistent threat to your safety and security."
"They must cease immediately," he insisted.
"We will persist in encouraging the global community to bolster support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. The road ahead is fraught with difficulties. However, united, we can capitalize on this opportunity," he remarked.
Guterres also condemned assaults on peacekeepers amid the Hezbollah-Israel conflict, emphasizing that all factions must prioritize the safety of UN personnel, as reported by Xinhua.
"The inviolability of UN facilities must be honored at all times. Any assault on UN peacekeeping forces is utterly intolerable. Such actions violate international law and humanitarian principles and may amount to a war crime," he stated.
The UN leader disclosed that UNIFIL has identified over 100 weapons caches associated with Hezbollah and other factions since November 27. He pledged that the UN will continue collaborating with pertinent nations to enhance the capacities of Lebanese forces in mine clearance and the disposal of unexploded ordnance.
Guterres underscored the significance of maintaining the effective role of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, asserting that the presence of armed individuals, assets, and weaponry, aside from those belonging to the Lebanese government and UNIFIL, between the Blue Line and the Litani River, constitutes clear violations of resolution 1701 and jeopardizes Lebanon's stability.
"The Lebanese Armed Forces, as the exclusive guarantor of Lebanon's security, are increasing their deployment in southern Lebanon, supported by UNIFIL and members of the mechanism established under the cessation of hostilities," he added.
Guterres arrived in Beirut on Thursday for an official visit.
