UN secretary-general mobilises support for Lebanon amid humanitarian crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has held discussions with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, emphasising that the UN system in Lebanon is fully mobilised to assist those in need.

"During his meeting with prime minister this morning, the UN secretary-general affirmed that the UN system in Lebanon is entirely focused on providing aid to those in need. The UN secretary-general urged the global community to support the humanitarian appeal for $426 million," the statement released by the secretary-general’s office says, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Israel has launched a ground invasion in southern Lebanon, in what it has described as "limited, localised and targeted" raids against Hezbollah.

Lebanese civilians are being warned not to use vehicles to travel south across the Litani river, located 20 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border, and residents in around 25 villages have been told to evacuate and head north.  

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation is aimed at the Iran-backed group's "infrastructure", which it says poses "an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel".

An Israeli senior security official said earlier that ground forces had only ventured a "very close walking distance" into Lebanon, but Hezbollah deny claims that troops are in the country.

By Naila Huseynova