Beirut - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The Secretary-General of the United Nations expressed his deep concern over the significant increase in exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, noting that these actions endanger the Lebanese and Israeli populations, as well as threaten regional security and stability.
In a statement attributed to his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, the Secretary-General called for immediate calm. He called on the parties to urgently and immediately return to the cessation of hostilities and fully implement resolution 1701 (2006).
In light of the "worrying developments" along the Blue Line since early yesterday morning, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the UNIFIL mission called on all to cease fire and refrain from further escalation.
This came in a joint statement issued by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon.
The statement stressed the need to return to the cessation of hostilities, followed by the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, as "the only sustainable way forward." The Office of the Special Coordinator and UNIFIL said they would continue their contacts to strongly urge all to de-escalate.

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said he met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in the hours following the intense exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah across the Blue Line on Sunday.

In a post on X, Tor Wennesland described the ongoing talks in Cairo on a ceasefire and hostage release as of paramount importance in order to save civilian lives, reduce regional tensions and enable the UN – in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority – to accelerate efforts to address the urgent needs of the long-suffering population of Gaza.

“We need a ceasefire and the release of all hostages now. We have no time to waste,” he added.