New York: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, emphasizing the need to respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Tuesday.
“An all-out war must be avoided in Lebanon at all costs,” Dujarric said in a statement, revealing that Guterres had spoken with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati earlier in the day. Guterres reassured Mikati that the United Nations stands ready to assist those in need.
“The Secretary-General will continue his contacts, and his representatives on the ground will also continue their efforts to de-escalate the situation,” Dujarric added, reinforcing the UN’s commitment to peace efforts in the region.
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During a later briefing with reporters, Dujarric shared that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had observed sporadic incursions by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) but clarified that they had not seen evidence of a full-scale invasion.
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“The information they have and they’ve received… is that they’ve seen sporadic incursions by the IDF,” he said, reiterating that there had been no indication of a wider military operation.
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