Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari
Remarks to the Security Council on the situation in Lebanon
New York, 31 March 2026
Mister President,
Amid the wider escalation across the Middle East, the situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate drastically. Since the last emergency meeting of this Council on Lebanon on 11 March, and the closed consultations held on 17 March, Hizbullah and Israel have both expanded the scale and scope of their military operations, with heavy exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, strikes across Lebanon and intensified clashes amid an increased deployment of Israel Defense Forces deeper inside Lebanon.
This is taking a devastating toll on civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly in Lebanon.
As of 30 March, the Lebanese authorities report that over 1,240 people have been killed and 3,680 wounded. Over 1.1 million people have been displaced. The World Health Organization has also documented numerous attacks on healthcare since early March, resulting in deaths and injuries among medical personnel. The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator will provide further details. Schools have been heavily affected, and three journalists were reportedly killed in a recent strike. Several bridges over the Litani River have been destroyed, which the IDF alleges were used by Hizbullah for transporting weapons and fighters.
In northern Israel, fatalities, destruction, displacement and widespread panic have returned.
Mister President,
On 29 March, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced, “the expansion of the security buffer zone in order to permanently neutralize the threat of invasion and to push anti-tank missile fire away from northern Israel”. This follows the 24 March announcement by Israeli Defense Minister Katz, declaring Israel’s intention to control a so-called “security zone” in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, until the threat of Hizbullah is removed.
The Lebanese government has repeatedly condemned Israel’s continued violations of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Aoun has reaffirmed Lebanon’s readiness to engage in direct negotiations with Israel under international auspices. While the Lebanese Government has taken commendable steps to address non-State arms, two things are true at once: The Government needs time and space not under fire to implement its decisions. And, more assertive actions, extending beyond the military realm, are needed to bring a State monopoly on arms into being.
But Hizbullah not only blatantly rejects the decisions by the Lebanese government, but also actively defies them. As well as rejecting the government decision to outlaw its activities, Hizbullah has made its capacity to undermine civil coexistence abundantly clear. This is dangerous rhetoric when civil tensions are on the rise in Lebanon. Nonetheless, Lebanese authorities have asserted that, while they are not calling for a confrontation with Hizbullah, they intend to persevere with their plans to extend state authority across the country and have urged the group to respect government decisions.
Mr. President,
The United Nations continues to call on all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels, stop the hostilities and recommit to the full implementation of resolution 1701.
The UN has been exercising its good offices at all levels, including through the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, calling for de-escalation, respect for international law, protection of civilians and an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Mister President,
There is no military solution. Only diplomacy, dialogue and the full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions can lead to a sustainable peace for all.
This is the pathway to spare communities on both sides of the Blue Line more needless suffering.
Thank you.
