Press Releases and Statements

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by continuing escalation in the Middle East, including the strikes by the United States on Iran and the strikes by Iran on neighbouring countries in the Gulf and beyond that are not parties to the conflict and significant increase in hostile rhetoric. He…

The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the renewed escalation in the Middle East. He calls on all concerned parties to immediately stop attacks, exercise maximum restraint, and refrain from any action that could further inflame an already volatile situation. The Secretary-General urges all…

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire following the fourth high-level trilateral meeting between Israeli and Lebanese representatives on 2 and 3 June 2026, in Washington, D.C. He reaffirms the support of the United Nations to all efforts to end the hostilities and alleviate…

The Secretary-General condemns the killing of Sergeant Milovan Jovanović, a Serbian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), when a mortar impacted United Nations position 7-2, near Marji’yun in Sector East of the UNIFIL area of operations, on 3 June 2026. Two…

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of a 45-day extension of the cessation of hostilities, which followed talks between Israel and Lebanon facilitated by the United States. He reaffirms the support of the United Nations to all efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of…

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert began today an official visit to Israel where she is scheduled to meet with senior Israeli officials. Discussions will focus on opportunities to consolidate the cessation of hostilities and pave the way to lasting stability…

The Secretary-General is saddened to learn that a fourth Indonesian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has died. Corporal Rico Pramudia succumbed to his wounds on 24 April after being critically injured in the incident on 29 March 2026, in which one other…

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of 23 April regarding a three-week extension to the cessation of hostilities arrangement to enable dialogue between Lebanon and Israel, as was initially announced on 16 April 2026 and commends the role of the United States in facilitating the extension…

The Secretary-General is saddened to learn that a second French peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has died following the attack on 18 April 2026 in which one other peacekeeper was killed and three were injured. Peacekeepers came under fire from non-state…

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack perpetrated against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 18 April, following which one peacekeeper from France died and three others were injured, two of them seriously. The members of the Security…