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Middle East conflict

UN secretary-general welcomes ceasefire between Israel, Lebanon

Antonio Guterres also urged the parties to undertake immediate steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701

UNITED NATIONS, November 27. /TASS/. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. He hopes that this agreement can put an end to the violence, destruction and suffering the people of both countries have been experiencing," reads a statement, released by his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

"The Secretary-General urges the parties to fully respect and swiftly implement all of their commitments made under this agreement," the document says.

The UN chief also urged the parties to undertake immediate steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.

Earlier, Israel’s war cabinet officially approved the plan of ceasefire in Lebanon. Shortly after, US President Joe Biden announced that, in line with the agreement, Lebanese forces are to regain full control over the country’s territory within 60 days. After that, Israeli forces will be withdrawn and residents will be allowed to return safely to their homes and start rebuilding them.

UNSC Resolution 1701 ended the Israeli-Lebanese military standoff in 2006. It envisages full cessation of hostilities with subsequent withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon’s south, with security guaranteed by the Lebanese armed forces and UN peacekeepers.

On September 23, Israel launched an operation codenamed Northern Arrows against the Shiite organization Hezbollah and massive airstrikes on its military facilities. One of the strikes killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrullah in Beirut on September 27. The Shiite organization confirmed his death and vowed to continue confronting Israel. In the early hours of October 1, the Israeli army announced a limited ground operation in border areas in southern Lebanon.

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United Nations Israel Lebanon

Middle East conflict

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