About 30 countries issued a joint statement on 11 to express deep concern over the escalation of the current situation in Lebanon, according to the Associated Press and other media.
According to news released by the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations on the 11th, countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Britain, India, Armenia, and Austria have issued joint statements on the Lebanese situation, which will be read by French representatives.
French Permanent Representative to the United Nations (right) reads the contents of the joint statement. Image: Screenshot of a video released by the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
“We express our deep concern about the escalation of hostile actions taking place in Lebanon, and we call on all concerned parties to immediately cease hostile actions and respect UN Security Council Resolution 1701.” The statement reiterated its support for the UN Provisional Forces in Lebanon (United Nations Forces in Lebanon) performing missions in southern Lebanon, saying that this is crucial for supporting Lebanon‘s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability.
The statement also condemned in “strongest terms” the attack on a camp of Li-United troops on the 6th of this month, saying that the attackers must be held accountable and wishing the injured peacekeepers a speedy recovery. The statement added that it urged parties to ensure the safety of Li-United troops under international law, “peacekeepers must never become the target of any attacks or intimidation acts.”
The United Nations website and media outlets such as Reuters had previously reported that a camp of UN troops was attacked on the 6th, injuring 3 Ghanaian peacekeepers. UN Secretary General Goutres issued a statement through a spokesman condemning the incident. The statement also said that the safety of UN personnel and property must always be respected, and that the perpetrators must be held accountable.