Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee’s Remarks to the Security Council on the Situation in Lebanon (New York, 1 June 2026)

Country: Lebanon Source: UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs ASG Pobee warns escalating hostilities between Lebanon and Israel threaten diplomatic efforts | United Nations Peace Operations Madam President, The situation in Lebanon is deeply alarming, marked by Israeli ground troops pushing further north into Lebanese territory and intensified Hizbullah attacks reaching deeper into Israel. On 31 May, the Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he had ordered the Israel Defense Forces to “deepen and expand” their control over areas previously held by Hizbullah, declaring the capture of the historic Beaufort castle. This followed Israeli advances north of the Litani river in the “Yohmor triangle”. The Israel Defense Forces circulated images of an Israeli flag flying over the castle, evoking memories of Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982 until 2000, when the castle was used as an Israeli base. Israel has also escalated its air campaign in recent days striking what it describes as Hizbullah targets across southern Lebanon, the Beqaa Valley and the outskirts of Beirut. The Israel Defense Forces has issued sweeping “urgent warnings” ordering civilians to evacuate all areas south of the Zahrani River, including Nabitiyah and Tyre areas as well as three nearby Palestine refugee camps, effectively designating the entirety of southern Lebanon as a “combat zone”. This intensified campaign has driven further mass displacement and deepened a climate of fear, with panic spreading widely among the Lebanese population. The Israel Defense Forces have expanded their presence north of the Blue Line, with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reporting extensive military activity, including airstrikes, artillery fire, logistics movements, and engineering works, throughout its area of operations. UNIFIL has also observed widespread demolitions of buildings in villages in the vicinity of the Blue Line. On 30 May, UNIFIL recorded 992 trajectories of projectiles fired by the Israel Defense Forces. This is the highest number since a cessation of hostilities came into effect on 17 April. Hizbullah has continued to launch dozens of rockets, anti-tank guided missiles, and drones – including increasingly deadly fiber-optic drones. It has also used surface-to-air missiles and improvised explosive devices against Israeli troops and assets inside Lebanese territory. In recent days, Hizbullah has escalated its strikes, launching rockets, drones, and missiles increasingly deeper into Israeli territory. Hizbullah leaders have reiterated that the group will not disarm, defying the stated intention of the Government of Lebanon to assert a state monopoly over the use of force. Since 2 March, the surge in hostilities has exacted a devastating human toll. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, at least 3, 412 have been killed and more than 10, 000 wounded in Lebanon. Among the dead and injured are hundreds of civilians, many women and children as well as journalists and medical workers who have been serving on the frontlines. Twenty-one Lebanese Armed Forces personnel have been killed. Four Israeli civilians and 26 Israel Defense Forces personnel have also been killed, with destruction and displacement affecting communities on both sides of the Blue Line. Six UNIFIL peacekeepers have been killed and several wounded, underscoring both the breadth of the violence and the profound and growing suffering of civilians caught in its path. Madam President, These developments mark a dangerous and alarming escalation, directly undermining the cessation of hostilities understanding announced by the United States on 16 April and eroding fragile diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. They cast a long shadow over ongoing attempts to facilitate direct talks between Lebanon and Israel and risk derailing the already tenuous path toward a permanent ceasefire. Israel’s presence north of the Blue Line is a clear violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). Israeli forces must withdraw to south of the Blue Line. Hizbullah and other non-state armed groups in Lebanon must disarm and cooperate with government efforts to extend state authority and assert a state monopoly over the use of force. The possession – and use – of weapons outside of State control is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006). The Lebanese Armed Forces are the only legitimate armed force in Lebanon. We reiterate the urgent need for increased international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and other State security institutions, enabling them to fully exercise their authority and responsibility to ensure security and stability across the entirety of Lebanon’s territory. Humanitarian needs in Lebanon are rising sharply, as the relentless destruction of homes, essential services and civilian infrastructure deepens an already dire situation. Entire communities are being uprooted, and the scale of suffering is compounding the country’s overwhelming recovery and reconstruction burden. Madam President, Diplomatic efforts must be given the space to succeed. Further escalation is intolerable. The populations of Israel and Lebanon have already endured immense suffering, and immediate steps are needed to alleviate it. We welcome the meeting between Lebanese and Israeli military representatives hosted by the United States in Washington, DC on 29 May, following meetings held in Washington between political representatives of Lebanon and Israel to the United States in recent months. We note that further meetings at the political level are anticipated this week (on 2 and 3 June). The United Nations, including through the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, stands ready to support these diplomatic efforts to secure a sustained cessation of hostilities that is fully respected by all actors on the ground and to advance the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). The ultimate objective remains clear: a durable permanent ceasefire, adhered to by all sides. Madam President, All actors must exercise maximum restraint and cease actions that risk upending efforts toward a lasting resolution. These hostilities are reverberating across the region. We note with concern today’s reported statements from Tehran that in response to the situation in Lebanon Iran will suspend dialogue with the United States, block the Strait of Hormuz and activate other fronts, citing escalation in Lebanon. We must urgently redouble efforts to avert any further escalation. In this context, we welcome reports from a short time ago today that intense diplomatic efforts may be yielding results and averting further escalation. We call on countries in the region that maintain ties with Hizbullah to encourage the group to cooperate with Lebanese state efforts to achieve a monopoly on arms. We call on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory in full respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Civilians must be protected. Civilian infrastructure, including cultural heritage sites, must not be targeted. United Nations personnel must not be targeted, and United Nations premises must remain inviolable. We urge the Council to reinforce these calls and to help create the conditions for an immediate end to hostilities and durable peace. Thank you, Madam President.

Read full story on Reliefweb