Beirut: Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres at his residence in Beirut on Friday evening. The meeting was also attended by several key UN figures, including the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Commander of the International Forces operating in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), General Aroldo Lazaro, and the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, Khaled Khiari.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Guterres expressed his admiration for the UNIFIL soldiers during his statement distributed by the United Nations Information Centre in Beirut. He highlighted the soldiers' courage and resilience, especially during challenging times when there was significant pressure for their withdrawal. Guterres recounted his visit to Naqoura, where he observed the conditions faced by UNIFIL units and acknowledged their decision to remain despite difficulties, emphasizing their role in maintaining peace and creating conditions for a ceasefire.
Guterres further conveyed the United Nations' intention to bolster the Lebanese Armed Forces. He underscored the importance of the Lebanese Armed Forces as a crucial entity for ensuring the protection of the Lebanese people, indicating that strengthening this institution is a priority for the UN's peacekeeping and stabilization efforts in the region.