Guterres Calls for the Continued Presence of UN Forces in Lebanon

On June 10, Xinhua News Agency reported from the United Nations that UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated on the 10th that after the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) begins its withdrawal at the end of this year, the presence of UN forces in Lebanon should be maintained.

During an open debate on the Middle East situation held at the Security Council that day, Guterres said that since March of this year, Israel has intensified its operations within Lebanon, and Hezbollah has launched attacks deep into Israeli territory. Many communities in southern Lebanon have been forced to migrate, a large number of homes and civilian infrastructure have been destroyed, and over one million civilians have been displaced. Additionally, seven UN peacekeepers have lost their lives. During this period, the risk of further escalation of the situation has always existed.

Guterres emphasized that all parties must commit to reaching a diplomatic solution. This solution must fully respect Lebanon's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence within its internationally recognized borders. He called for the continued presence of UN forces in Lebanon after the withdrawal of UNIFIL.

According to the resolution passed by the Security Council last August, UNIFIL will cease operations on December 31, 2026, and will then begin to scale down and withdraw all personnel from Lebanon within a year.