United nations: The United Nations Security Council convened a session to examine the unfolding crisis in Lebanon, hearing briefings from three senior UN officials who warned of the accelerating peril facing the country amid widening military escalation.
According to Oman News Agency, Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia, told the Council that the situation in Lebanon 'continues to deteriorate sharply' within the broader context of regional unrest. He reported intense exchanges of fire along the Blue Line, Israeli military strikes across several areas of Lebanon, and the deepening entrenchment of occupation forces inside Lebanese territory. He reiterated the UN's call for all parties to pursue diplomatic channels and recommit to the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
Khiari also conveyed a message from Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres following his recent visit to Lebanon, in which Guterres underscored that 'the Lebanese people did not choose this war but were dragged into it,' urging an immediate halt to the fighting and bombardment. He affirmed that diplomacy, dialogue, and full adherence to the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions remain the only path to sustainable peace for all.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, warned in his address that civilians are bearing a devastating toll as hostilities persist, while the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has suffered losses. He called for an end to all actions endangering peacekeepers, urging all parties to uphold their commitments to the safety and security of UN personnel at all times and to respect the inviolability of UN premises.