NEW YORK (WAM)
Senior UN officials warned of a dangerous uptick in violence in the Middle East as delegates echoed their calls for a ceasefire, de-escalation and diplomacy.
"The conflict in Lebanon, coupled with intensified strikes in Syria and the raging violence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, points to a region dangerously teetering on the brink of an all-out war," Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, warned the 15-nation organ during the Security Council briefing on Thursday.
She observed that the situation in the country had become even more alarming since the Secretary-General's last address before the Council eight days ago.
"The parties must seize the diplomatic options put on the table before them, not the weapons by their side," the UN official emphasised. She called for an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of Security Council resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006).
She added that the Lebanese state must have control over all weapons within its territory. "I urge Lebanon's political leaders to take resolute steps towards addressing the vacuum… Obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, must be upheld."
"Distinction must be made between civilians and fighters, and between civilian infrastructure and military objectives; civilians, and civilian infrastructure, must not be targeted; indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks must be avoided; humanitarian personnel, medical workers, and journalists also must not be targeted; UN personnel, including the brave peacekeepers along the Blue Line and members of the UN family working under such dangerous conditions across Lebanon, must be protected," she urged.
The official continued, "We need to invest every effort to reverse this cycle of violence and bring Lebanon and Israel - and the region - back from the brink of catastrophe."
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, highlighted the significant risks they pose to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He stressed that while UNIFIL forces remain stationed at their posts under the mandate granted by the Council, their operational activities have been almost completely halted since 23rd September.
Lacroix also revealed that the UN has decided to reduce the UNIFIL's footprint at the most affected UN positions by 25 percent.
By October 6, UNIFIL had temporarily relocated 300 peacekeepers to larger bases within the area of operations, with the movement of another 200 planned, dependent on the prevailing security situation.