UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, calling on both parties to strictly adhere to the reached agreement. According to Operative Information Center-OMM, the statement was reported by The Times of Israel.
Guterres expressed hope that the ceasefire would serve as a continuation of the path toward negotiations aimed at a long-term resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah group. The UN chief emphasized the importance of diplomatic engagement to ensure regional stability and the protection of civilian populations on both sides of the border.
The ceasefire follows a period of intense regional escalation. On February 28, US and Israeli forces launched military operations against Iran, conducting airstrikes on several cities. On the same day, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks. In response, Iran launched missile strikes against Israel and targeted US military bases in the Persian Gulf countries. Hezbollah joined the conflict on Iran's side, targeting Israel with missiles and drones, prompting the Israel Defense Forces to strike the group's infrastructure in southern Lebanon and southern Beirut. Israel also expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon.
Following these events, Iran, the US, and their allies agreed to a two-week ceasefire on the night of April 8, 2026. On April 14, an initial round of Lebanon-Israel contacts was held in Washington under US auspices to determine the start date for peace talks. On April 16, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had declared a 10-day ceasefire effective from 17:00 Eastern Time.
The United Nations has historically played a central role in mediating conflicts in the Middle East, particularly through the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This latest diplomatic breakthrough, supported by US President Donald Trump, is seen as a critical step in preventing a wider regional war and establishing a framework for sustainable peace in the Levant.
