In March 2026, a group of countries contributing troops to UNIFIL issued a joint statement expressing deep alarm over the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, condemning Hezbollah’s decision to join Iranian attacks against Israel, urging an immediate return to the cessation of hostilities in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and reaffirming support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the UNIFIL mission. The statement also called on Hezbollah to cease fire and disarm, welcomed efforts by the Lebanese government to dismantle Hezbollah’s military activities, and urged Israel to avoid attacks on civilian infrastructure. The statement was issued on behalf of Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Cambodia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, Nepal, North Macedonia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Serbia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
The following is the full text of the statement.
We, troop-contributing countries to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, joined by several other member states, express our deep alarm at the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon.
We call on the parties to urgently return to the cessation of hostilities arrangements and to respect United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. Faced with war, Lebanon must be supported. Its sovereignty and territorial integrity must be preserved.
We express our full solidarity with Lebanon and the Lebanese people. We condemn in the strongest terms Hezbollah's reckless decision to join the Iranian attacks against Israel since March 2, 2026, dragging Lebanon into a war neither its authorities nor its population wanted. We urge Hezbollah to immediately cease its fire toward Israel and to give up its weapons.
We support the efforts of the Government of Lebanon toward the swift implementation of Resolution 1701. We commend the Lebanese Government's recent decisions to dismantle Hezbollah's security and military activities in Lebanon and to implement, by all means, Phase II of the Nation Shield Plan for the state monopoly on weapons. We stand ready to increase our support for the Lebanese state's sovereignty and its armed forces to ensure control of the territory and stabilize the country.
We welcome President Aoun's Four Points Initiative, including the call for direct negotiations under international auspices. We urge Israel to abstain from attacks against civilian infrastructure and heavily populated areas and to respect Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity. All parties must respect international law, including international humanitarian law, and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Nearly a million Lebanese civilians have had to flee their homes following Israeli evacuation orders to escape hostilities. We commit to supporting the Lebanese Government's response to the needs of the displaced population and their host communities, with the support of humanitarian actors in Lebanon, including UN agencies, the Red Cross, the Resurrection Movement, and international and local NGOs.
We reaffirm our strong support for the mandate of UNIFIL in South Lebanon, whose work is essential to supporting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability of Lebanon as enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks that affected the Ghanaian contingent of UNIFIL at its base in southwestern Lebanon on March 6, 2026. Those responsible for the attack must be held accountable. We express our solidarity with the Government of Ghana and wish the wounded peacekeepers a speedy recovery.
We urge all parties, under all circumstances, to ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises in accordance with international law. Peacekeepers must never be the target of attacks or intimidation of any kind. We commend the courage, professionalism, and dedication of UNIFIL peacekeepers in fulfilling their mandate.
Source: “Security Council Media Stakeouts,” UN Web TV, (March 11, 2026).