UN Sounds Alarm Over Lebanon Violence, Demands Ceasefire Respect
"We are deeply alarmed by the escalation in military activities across southern Lebanon and beyond," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the daily press briefing. "Israeli warnings of imminent strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs are deeply concerning and have heightened fear and uncertainty among the population in Lebanon."
Dujarric was unequivocal on the protection of non-combatants, stressing that "civilians and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted" and urging all actors to "respect the cessation of hostilities and avoid further escalation."
"We condemn all the loss of civilian lives," he said. "There is no alternative to a diplomatic solution to break the cycle of violence and to achieve sustainable stability on both sides of the blue line."
The UN spokesperson also pressed for meaningful engagement in upcoming negotiations, stating that US-sponsored Lebanon-Israel talks scheduled to resume Tuesday "must be given a real chance to succeed."
The warnings come as Israel has continued its military offensive in Lebanon in defiance of a ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was subsequently extended for 45 days through US-mediated indirect talks. Since March 2, Israeli strikes have claimed more than 3,400 lives across Lebanon, according to the country's Health Ministry.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has compounded concerns by ordering a deepening of the ground incursion, with Israeli forces seizing the strategically vital Beaufort Castle — the most significant penetration into Lebanese territory in decades.
The violence in Lebanon also carries broader regional consequences. Ending hostilities on all active fronts — Lebanon included — remains one of Iran's stated preconditions for reaching a permanent settlement to conclude its war with Washington.
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