UN calls Hezbollah, Israel for de-escalation

On August 25, 2024, the United Nations and Lebanon's prime minister called for a de-escalation of hostilities following a significant increase in cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah.

This appeal comes in the wake of Israel conducting strikes on Lebanon and Hezbollah launching attacks on Israeli positions, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon issued a joint statement, urging all parties to cease fire and avoid further escalation. The statement described the recent developments as "worrying" and emphasized that "a return to the cessation of hostilities, followed by the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, is the only sustainable way forward."

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, calls for the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to be the only armed forces deployed in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati convened an emergency meeting with his ministers on Sunday, during which he announced that he had been engaged in "a series of contacts with Lebanon’s friends to stop the escalation." A statement from his office reiterated the need to "stop the Israeli aggression first of all, and to apply Resolution 1701."

Prime Minister Mikati also highlighted Lebanon’s support for international efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, indicating Lebanon's broader regional concerns amid escalating violence.

Since the Gaza war erupted on October 7 following a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, Iran-backed Hezbollah has regularly exchanged fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas. This ongoing conflict has led to increased calls for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 as a means of restoring calm and preventing further escalation in the region.