Lebanon's PM Calls for UN Ceasefire Resolution Amid Ongoing Conflict

Friday 11 October 2024 - 16:25

In a decisive move, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday urged the United Nations to adopt a resolution calling for an “immediate” ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. This appeal comes in the wake of escalating violence that has resulted in significant casualties and displacement within Lebanon.

During a televised address, Mikati reiterated his government’s commitment to deploying the Lebanese army along the border with Israel, a step he described as essential for halting hostilities. He noted that Hezbollah had expressed agreement with this plan, signaling a potential shift in the group’s stance toward the conflict.

Mikati outlined that Lebanon’s foreign ministry would formally request the UN Security Council to issue a resolution demanding a “full and immediate ceasefire. He emphasized the importance of adhering to Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006, calling for the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to serve as the sole armed forces in southern Lebanon.

“We are committed to the deployment of the army in the south and enhancing its presence along the border,” Mikati stated, adding, “Hezbollah is in agreement on this issue.”

This call for a ceasefire follows reports that Hezbollah had informed Lebanese authorities of its acceptance of a truce with Israel on September 27, coinciding with an Israeli airstrike that killed one of its leaders, Hassan Nasrallah. Initially, Hezbollah had conditioned any ceasefire on a simultaneous agreement with its Palestinian ally, Hamas, in Gaza.

In his address, Mikati condemned the recent attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), labeling them a “crime.” Reports indicate that UN peacekeepers were targeted by Israeli forces for two consecutive days, highlighting the fragile security situation in the region.

The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of over 2,100 individuals in Lebanon over the past year, displacing more than one million people, according to official Lebanese sources. The Prime Minister's appeal to the international community underscores the urgent need for intervention to restore peace and stability in the region.