\n<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters in the capital Beirut following two weeks of widespread destruction triggered by the US and Israeli bombing of Iran, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres noted that Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel in support of Tehran had been followed by a \u201cdevastating\u201d Israeli bombing campaign which is \u201crendering large portions of Lebanon uninhabitable<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Lebanese people did not choose this war. They were dragged into it<\/strong>,\u201d he continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe war must stop<\/strong>,\u201d the UN chief said, underscoring that there is no military solution to the conflict continuing across the Middle East, only a diplomatic one in line with the UN Charter.<\/p>\n He acknowledged the impact on both sides of the Blue Line that separates southern Lebanon from northern Israel, which is patrolled by the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL under a Security Council mandate.\u00a0<\/p>\n Israelis have fled to shelters in the face of Hezbollah rockets, while hundreds of Lebanese have been killed \u201cincluding many children.\u201d<\/p>\n Well over 800,000 have been forced to flee their homes in the southern conflict zone and areas targeted in the Hezbollah stronghold of southern Beirut, following blanket Israeli evacuation orders.<\/p>\n \u201cI was deeply saddened by the testimonies of the displaced people that I visited in a shelter today<\/strong>,\u201d said Mr. Guterres.<\/p>\n He noted that a cessation of hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel of just over a year ago, did not see an end to simmering violence, with both Hezbollah and Israeli forces violating ceasefire terms.<\/p>\n The UN chief paid tribute to the courage of UNIFIL peacekeepers who have come under fire in recent days: \u201cAttacks against peacekeepers and positions are completely unacceptable and they must stop<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0Mr. Guterres praised the Lebanese Government\u2019s historic decision last August to establish a \u201cmonopoly of arms\u201d, adding that Hezbollah militants must abide by it and all other Security Council resolutions to hand over their weapons.<\/p>\n <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres visits a Ghanaian peacekeeper in hospital serving with the UNIFIL mission who was injured after coming under fire during the renewed conflict in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nNo war of choice for Lebanese<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Shelter visit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
International message<\/strong><\/h2>\n