“A full-scale war in Lebanon must be avoided at all costs and Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected,” Stephen Dujarric, a spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres, said on Tuesday.
UN chief Antonio Guterres spoke to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday morning and assured him that “the entire UN system has been activated in Lebanon to help those in need in the country.”
Antonio Guterres has issued an appeal to international donors to raise $426 million for humanitarian aid in Lebanon.
“The Secretary-General will remain in touch and his representatives on the ground will continue their efforts to de-escalate the situation,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
UNFIL peacekeepers on standby
UNIFIL, the UN’s interim force in Lebanon, issued a statement on Tuesday saying the cost of continuing the current crackdown would be too high.
It is noteworthy that UNIFIL monitors the Blue Line – the border line between Lebanon and Israel – under Security Council Resolution 1701. UNIFIL was established after the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon by passing this resolution.
The UN mission in Lebanon insists that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected under international law.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a regular afternoon press briefing that he was in contact with UNIFIL colleagues, who confirmed that a full-scale attack along the Blue Line had not yet taken place.
“Peacekeepers are being deployed and monitoring all positions and border posts along the Blue Line,” said Stephen Dujarric.
“Our message to countries in the region and beyond is to use their influence on the parties concerned to try to reduce tensions and prevent them from escalating.”
The UN spokesman said the UN was equally concerned about the indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. “It’s a concern for everybody … everybody in the area.”