Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Further escalation of the conflict will benefit no one, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo stated at a Security Council meeting on Lebanon. To prevent further loss of life and create conditions for constructive political dialogue, she emphasized, an end to the violence is necessary.
Hezbollah's decision to attack Israel on March 2 has once again drawn Lebanon into a conflict it didn't seek, DiCarlo noted. Since then, in violation of Security Council Resolution 1701, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of shells at Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
Israel, in turn, launched massive strikes on southern Beirut, southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the city of Baalbek. According to the Lebanese government, these operations killed more than 570 people and wounded over 1,400.
Israel also issued evacuation notices for these areas, displacing more than half a million people.
"The resurgence of violence along the Blue Line has largely reversed the progress made in recent months," DiCarlo said.
For Lebanon to fulfill its obligations under resolutions 1559 and 1701, an immediate reduction in tensions and an end to violence are necessary, she stressed.
“Hezbollah must stop attacking Israel and cooperate with the government in its efforts to assert full state authority and establish a monopoly on weapons,” the deputy secretary general emphasized.
"Israel must end its military campaign in Lebanon and withdraw its troops from Lebanese territory," she added.
DiCarlo called on the international community to strengthen its support for the Lebanese state security forces, in particular the Lebanese Armed Forces, by providing them with the necessary capabilities and resources.
The UN Secretary-General and his Special Coordinator for Lebanon continue to engage with stakeholders to bring the conflict to an end, DiCarlo said.
The escalation of fighting in southern Lebanon has reached a new level.
The escalation of hostilities in southern Lebanon has "reached a new level," UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix announced at a Security Council meeting. He stated that missile and drone strikes are being recorded daily on both sides of the Blue Line. Israeli forces have expanded their presence north of the Blue Line, which, like the actions of armed groups, violates Security Council Resolution 1701.
Amid intense shelling, the safety of UN peacekeepers, according to Lacroix, was seriously threatened. On March 6, a Ghanaian peacekeeper was seriously wounded. Several other peacekeepers were injured in the attack on the Al-Kawza base.
In the following days, incidents involving Israeli tanks near observation posts were reported, as well as rocket debris falling near the mission headquarters in Naqoura. Lacroix emphasized that all parties bear "clear and unambiguous responsibility" for the safety of UN personnel.
Due to movement restrictions, peacekeepers focused on protecting personnel and facilitating humanitarian access. Blue Helmets evacuated dozens of residents from villages in southern Lebanon, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, and facilitated the safe departure of over 80 residents of Alma al-Shab.
Lacroix warned that the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating and hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to flee their homes. He called on the parties to de-escalate and fully implement Resolution 1701.
Humanitarian aspect
Amid the ongoing escalation in Lebanon, the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher stated at a Security Council meeting.
According to him, the country "finds itself at a moment of grave danger," with the consequences of the regional war devastating the civilian population: since March 2, more than 570 people have died, over 1,400 have been injured, and the number of displaced persons has exceeded 750,000. Tens of thousands of people are seeking refuge in overcrowded collective centers, where the risks of violence, exploitation, and the spread of disease are growing.
Fletcher emphasized that Lebanon's healthcare system is under severe pressure: 49 primary health centers and five hospitals have been closed. The World Health Organization has recorded 25 attacks on medical facilities. Against this backdrop, humanitarian organizations are attempting to scale up their aid: hundreds of thousands of hot meals, water, hygiene items, and fuel have already been distributed, and mobile clinics and child protection services are operating.
Access to those in need is becoming increasingly difficult: southern Lebanon, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut remain active fighting zones, roads are blocked by debris and unexploded ordnance, and population movements are difficult to track.
Fletcher called for the protection of civilians, increased funding for humanitarian aid, and a "revival of calm, rational diplomacy," stressing that Lebanon is "weary from other people's wars" and can only recover when outside actors stop fighting on its soil.
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