Guterres urges UN to keep uniformed presence in Lebanon

United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday urged the United Nations to maintain a "uniformed presence" in Lebanon after the scheduled withdrawal of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a process set to begin at the end of this year.

Addressing an open Security Council debate on the Middle East, Guterres warned that the region is sliding deeper into crisis with repercussions beyond its borders. "I am profoundly concerned it could trigger a full resumption of conflict," he said.

Guterres described a sharp escalation in Lebanon since March, with intensified Israeli operations in Lebanese territory and deeper strikes by Hezbollah into Israel. He cited civilian deaths, mass displacement — more than a million people uprooted — and widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Seven UN peacekeepers have been killed in the recent violence, including one last week, the secretary general added.

He called on all parties to pursue a diplomatic settlement that fully respects Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence within its internationally recognised borders, in line with Security Council Resolution 1701. He also reiterated a proposal from a recent letter to the Council for a continued UN uniformed presence in Lebanon after UNIFIL’s departure.

Under Security Council Resolution 2790, UNIFIL will cease operations on December 31, after which its drawdown and withdrawal of personnel from Lebanon must be completed within one year.

(Inputs from IANS)