UN / LEBANON UPDATE

The United Nations expressed deep alarm over renewed violence along the Blue Line, following rocket fire from southern Lebanon and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes - including the first strikes on Beirut since the cessation of hostilities took effect. “Grave threats on both sides of the Blue Line,” a UN spokesperson said. UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:02:03
• Production Date: 28 March 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON - UNIFIL
• Subject Topical: HOSTILITY
• Geographic Subject: LEBANON; ISRAEL
• MAMS Id: 3356519
• Parent Id: 3356519
• Alternate Title: unifeed250328g

Description

STORY: UN / LEBANON UPDATE
TRT: 02:03
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 28 MARCH 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters

28 MARCH 2025, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, spokesperson walks up to the dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“As you heard from the Secretary-General, we are indeed seriously concerned about the escalation across the Blue Line, including three rockets fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel this morning, as detected by UNIFIL, and Israeli airstrikes, including in southern Lebanon as well as southern Beirut - the first such strikes on Beirut since the cessation of hostilities came into effect, resulting reportedly in civilian casualties. We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from further escalatory activities, which endanger civilians. Our Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert together with the Head of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL), Lt. General Aroldo Lázaro, are in contact with all actors with the aim of de-escalating the situation and preventing any further incidents, which pose grave threats on both sides of the Blue Line. Since the cessation of hostilities went into effect, almost a million people returned to their communities in the south of Lebanon, but over 93,000 remain displaced. The hostilities have also claimed more than 4,000 lives in Lebanon, and today’s developments represent a worrying escalation. We and our humanitarian partners continue to support people impacted by the conflict, including people who are still uprooted and host communities. We repeatedly call on all the parties to respect their obligations according to international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure on both sides of the Blue Line. UN Peacekeepers remain in position and continue to monitor and report on the situation on the ground. It remains crucial, of course, that the parties undertake tangible steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and uphold their commitments made under the cessation of hostilities agreement.”
10. Wide shot, press briefing room

Storyline

The United Nations expressed deep alarm Friday over renewed violence along the Blue Line, following rocket fire from southern Lebanon and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes - including the first strikes on Beirut since the cessation of hostilities took effect.

“We are indeed seriously concerned about the escalation across the Blue Line, including three rockets fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel this morning, as detected by UNIFIL,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. He confirmed that Israeli forces responded with airstrikes in southern Lebanon and southern Beirut, reportedly resulting in civilian casualties.

The UN has urged all parties to “exercise maximum restraint and refrain from further escalatory activities, which endanger civilians.”

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the head of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL), Lt. General Aroldo Lázaro, are in contact with all parties “with the aim of de-escalating the situation and preventing any further incidents,” Dujarric said, noting the “grave threats on both sides of the Blue Line.”
Since the hostilities ceased, nearly one million people have returned to southern Lebanon, though more than 93,000 remain displaced. According to the UN, over 4,000 people have died in Lebanon as a result of the conflict.

“We and our humanitarian partners continue to support people impacted by the conflict, including people who are still uprooted and host communities,” said Dujarric.

He reaffirmed the UN’s call for all parties to “respect their obligations according to international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure on both sides of the Blue Line.” UN peacekeepers remain in place to monitor and report on the evolving situation.

“It remains crucial, of course, that the parties undertake tangible steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and uphold their commitments made under the cessation of hostilities agreement,” Dujarric added.