UN chief visits southern Lebanon

The UN Secretary-General welcomed the announced Israel–Lebanon cessation-of-hostilities agreement and called for full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701.

A cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect. UNIFIL welcomed the announcement and called for full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701; civilian security...

A cessation of hostilities took effect at 04:00 local time. The agreement envisaged restrictions on attacks, Lebanese army deployment and Israeli withdrawal, while implementation remained contested.

UNIFIL welcomed the agreement and reaffirmed its role under Resolution 1701, emphasizing civilian suffering on both sides of the Blue Line.

President Joseph Aoun designated former ICJ president Nawaf Salam to form a government after parliamentary consultations. The choice signalled a shift in Lebanese political alignments after the war.

Guterres said Israeli withdrawal, Lebanese Armed Forces deployment and control of weapons were essential to Resolution 1701. He also described destruction and reconstruction needs.

UN officials reported 15 people killed, including a Lebanese soldier, as civilians attempted to return to southern villages; the original withdrawal timetable was not met.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the Israeli troop withdrawal deadline to 18 February, after the initial 60-day period expired.

The UN said Israel had not fully withdrawn south of the Blue Line, while acknowledging progress in Lebanese army deployments and civilian returns.

France noted Israeli forces remained in five positions on Lebanese territory and proposed that UNIFIL could replace them.