UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. (Credit: AFP archive photo)
“Lebanon and its region remain in imminent danger, but a diplomatic solution is still possible,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said Wednesday during a U.N. Security Council session. She presented the report drafted by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Resolution 1701.
The resolution, adopted in 2006, aimed to end the July conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and established the presence of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army in the southern border area. Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in near-daily clashes since Oct. 8, 2023.
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon fears 'misjudgment'
In remarks reported by the National News Agency (NNA), Hennis-Plasschaert rejected the notion that a full-scale conflict is inevitable. “Both Lebanon and Israel have declared that they do not want war,” she said. She also expressed hope that an “agreement on Gaza could immediately return things to normal along the Blue Line,” which serves as the demarcation between the two countries.
“I fear that any misjudgment by either party could lead to a broader conflict affecting the entire region,” she warned. Hennis-Plasschaert emphasized that she is making “every effort” to encourage both sides to de-escalate. “Implementing Resolution 1701 is the only path to lasting security,” she added.
Hennis-Plasschaert also addressed “other crises” impacting Lebanon, including “the weakening of the state and the decline in the capacity of its institutions.” She noted that many Lebanese “rely on remittances from abroad to sustain their lives,” reaffirming the need for economic reforms.
Additionally, she discussed “the immense difficulties resulting from the long-term presence of a large number of refugees in Lebanon,” stressing the need for “comprehensive solutions” to this issue. “The solutions are not limited to Lebanon alone,” she said.
In his report on Resolution 1701, Antonio Guterres provided several figures, detailed by L'Orient-Le Jour in various infographics. For example, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has maintained its presence south of the Litani River, conducting an average of 6,000 motorized patrols between February 21 and June 20, according to the report.
