Ladies and gentlemen of the media.
I have come to Beirut with a message to the Lebanese people, to the warring parties, and to the world.
Above all, I am here on a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon.
Muslim communities are observing Ramadan, and Christian communities are observing Lent.
This is a season for solidarity, generosity, and a powerful reminder of Lebanon’s spirit of confessional co-existence.
It breaks my heart to see this period shattered by escalating violence.
Over the past two weeks, we have seen widespread destruction.
Hizbullah rockets and drones were launched at targets in northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan. This was followed by devastating Israeli bombing operations and blanket evacuation notices, rendering large portions of Lebanon uninhabitable.
Many Israelis were sent to shelter.
Hundreds of Lebanese have been killed, including many children.
And many more have been wounded.
And hundreds of thousands of civilians are fleeing with nothing but what they can carry. I was deeply saddened by the testimonies of the displaced people when I visited a shelter today.
The south risks being turned into a wasteland.
Southern Beirut – which is under sweeping evacuation orders by Israel – risks being bombed to oblivion.
The Bekaa and Baalbek – and other areas – are scenes of destruction and panic.
It is tragic to see all this happening in a country that has contributed so much to world civilization.
The Lebanese people did not choose this war.
They were dragged into it.
My message to the warring parties is clear:
Stop the fighting.
Stop the bombing.
There is no military solution – only diplomacy, dialogue and the full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions.
The diplomatic avenues are available – including through my Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and through key Member States.
This is the pathway to spare communities on both sides of the Blue Line more needless suffering.
Just over a year ago, a cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel was achieved.
It did not resolve all outstanding issues – and it was not fully respected.
While the parties reiterated their commitment to the full implementation of Resolution 1701, violations persisted by both sides.
Violence did not end.
And the territorial integrity of Lebanon continued to be violated.
There was more a “lesser fire” than a real ceasefire.
But the November 2024 arrangement did bring significant relief and offered a renewed opportunity to advance political dialogue.
Unfortunately, that opportunity was not fully seized.
We are doing everything we can now to bring about an immediate de-escalation and a cessation of hostilities.
My Special Coordinator is engaging with all actors around the clock to bring the parties to the table.
UNIFIL peacekeepers – under the command of General Abagnara – remain in position.
They are maintaining an impartial international peacekeeping presence along the Blue Line and throughout the Area of Operations, to fulfill the mandate entrusted to them by the Security Council, and to support the local populations.
I want to pay tribute to their courage.
Last Friday, three Blue Helmets serving with the Ghanaian contingent were injured, one seriously - I visited him today at the hospital - amid intense exchanges of fire.
I wish them a full and speedy recovery.
Attacks against peacekeepers and positions are completely unacceptable and they must stop.
They are in breach of international law and may constitute war crimes.
Moreover, civilians must be respected and protected at all times – and civilian infrastructure must be spared.
Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.
The State must have full control over weapons throughout Lebanese territory. This is a central tenet of Resolution 1701 – and a sine qua non to lasting security on both sides of the Blue Line.
Last August, the Government of Lebanon took a historic decision to establish state monopoly of arms throughout the country.
We will continue to support the efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces and other State security services.
But the vision of resolution 1701 cannot be brought to life by the army, alone.
It requires a whole-of-government effort to address the entrenched reality of non-state arms – and to heal long-standing grievances and divisions.
And it must include every community in Lebanon – Christian, Druze, Shiite, Sunni, and others.
It is imperative that Hizbullah respects the government’s decision to assert the state’s monopoly of arms, as well as all relevant Security Council Resolutions, including 1701.
And it is imperative that Israel respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon.
The war must stop.
Finally, my message to the international community is simply: step up your engagement.
Empower the Lebanese State, and support the Lebanese Armed Forces to secure the capabilities and resources they need.
Respond generously to the humanitarian appeal launched yesterday to provide the government of Lebanon with the resources needed to intensify its support to the populations affected.
The people of Lebanon – as well as Israel and all other peoples throughout the region – deserve to live without fear.
To raise their children without the sound of sirens and strikes.
To return home without wondering when they have to flee again.
Our team on the ground is working to do everything they can to support the Lebanese people and institutions. I am deeply grateful to all UN colleagues for their commitment and dedication.
Together, we will spare no effort in striving for the peaceful future that Lebanon and this region so richly deserve.
Thank you.