Beirut, March 13 (SANA) – UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, stressing that Lebanon has been dragged into a war it did not want.
The UN Cheif comments came after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut on Friday, according to AFP.
Guterres emphasized that the Lebanese State alone must control the use of force, adding that “the era of armed groups is over; this is the era of strong states.”
He noted that the Lebanese people should be observing Ramadan in peace and solidarity, but the country has become engaged in a conflict its people did not choose.
Guterres announced that he will launch an urgent humanitarian appeal with UN agencies to help Lebanon cope with the refugee crisis, where the number of registered refugees has exceeded 800,000, with more than 128,000 residing in shelters.
Earlier, the member states of the UN Security Council affirmed their support for Lebanon’s safety and security, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and respect for its territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with Resolution 1701 and the UN Charter.
