Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri received the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and the accompanying delegation at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain El‑Tineh.
The meeting was attended by UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean‑Pierre Lacroix, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis‑Plasschaert, the Commander of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Imran Riza, and Berri’s media adviser Ali Hamdan.
Discussions focused on the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, particularly the political and field developments amid the escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon and their repercussions on various levels, especially the displacement crisis and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese from their homes. The meeting also addressed the role of UNIFIL and the attacks it has been subjected to.
During the meeting, Berri reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, stressing that there is no alternative to UNIFIL in implementing the resolution in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces. He also called for obliging Israel to halt its attacks and to implement the November 2024 agreement.
Following the meeting, Guterres expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation, saying:
“I am saddened to witness the terrible suffering endured by the generous Lebanese people, who have long hosted Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Today, it breaks my heart to see such a large number of Lebanese displaced within their own country, along with the high number of casualties. It is an extremely tragic situation.”
He added: “My message is very clear: this war must end. There must be an immediate ceasefire. My appeal to both sides is simple—let us implement an immediate ceasefire and stop the immense suffering of the Lebanese people. We must also ensure that, within the framework of a ceasefire, negotiations take place to guarantee that Lebanon regains sovereignty over its territory and that its sovereignty is fully respected. At the same time, the Lebanese state, with all its institutions, must be able to become a strong state capable of exercising authority over the entire country.”
Guterres concluded: “I sincerely hope that the Lebanese people will overcome these dramatic and challenging circumstances. The Lebanese people can rely on me and on the United Nations to do everything possible to help put an end to what is happening.”
