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STORY: LEBANON / GUTERRES VISIT DAY TWO
TRT: 07:36
SOURCE: UNIFIL
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 14 MARCH 2026, BEIRUT, LEBANON
1. Various shots, UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrival, meeting with Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolf Haykal, delegations
2. Various shots, UN Secretary-General arrival to internally displaced persons (IDPs) shelter in Dekweneh
3. Various shots, UN Secretary-General in IDPs shelter interacting with displaced people
4. Various shots, UN Secretary-General visiting UNIFIL injured peacekeeper, Saint George Hospital
5. Various shots, UN Secretary-General and delegation meeting with Elias Audi Metropolitan bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch for the Archdiocese of Beirut
6. Wide shot, UN Secretary-General at press conference
7. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Over the past two weeks, we have seen widespread destruction. Hizbullah rockets and drones were launched at targets in northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan. This was followed by devastating Israeli bombing operations and blanket evacuation notices, rendering large portions of Lebanon uninhabitable. Many Israelis were sent to shelters. Hundreds of Lebanese have been killed, including many children. Many more have been wounded. And hundreds of thousands of civilians are fleeing with nothing but what they can carry.”
8. Wide shot, press room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The south risks being turned into a wasteland. Southern Beirut – which is under sweeping evacuation orders by Israel – risks being bombed to oblivion. The Bekaa and Baalbek – and other areas – are scenes of destruction and panic.”
10.
11. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The Lebanese people did not choose this war. They were dragged into it. My message to the warring parties is clear: Stop the firing. Stop the bombing. There is no military solution – only diplomacy, dialogue and the full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions. The diplomatic avenues are available.”
12. Wide shot, press room
13. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“My Special Coordinator is engaging with all actors around the clock to bring the parties to the table. UNIFIL peacekeepers – under the command of General Abagnara – remain in position. They are maintaining an impartial international peacekeeping presence along the Blue Line and throughout the Area of Operations, to fulfill the mandate entrusted to them by the Security Council and supporting the local communities. I want to pay tribute to their courage.”
14. Wide shot, press room
15. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Last Friday, three Blue Helmets serving with the Ghanaian contingent were injured, one seriously, amid intense exchanges of fire. I wish them a full and speedy recovery. Attacks against peacekeepers and positions are completely unacceptable and they must stop. They are in breach of international law and may constitute war crimes.”
16. Wide shot, press room
17. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. The State must have full control over weapons throughout Lebanese territory. This is a central tenet of resolution 1701 – and a sine qua non to lasting security on both sides of the Blue Line.”
18. Wide shot, press room
19. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“It is imperative that Hizbullah respects the government’s decision to assert the State’s monopoly of arms, as well as all relevant Security Council resolutions, including 1701. And it is imperative that Israel respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon.”
20. Wide shot, press room
21.SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Finally, my message to the international community is simply this: step up your engagement. Empower the Lebanese State and support the Lebanese Armed Forces to secure the capabilities and resources they need. Respond generously to the humanitarian appeal launched yesterday to provide the government of Lebanon with the resources needed to intensify the support to the populations affected. The people of Lebanon – as well as Israel and all other peoples throughout the region – deserve to live without fear.”
22. Wide shot, end of press conference
In Beirut, Guterres called for an end to the war in the Middle East and said, “The people of Lebanon – as well as Israel and all other peoples throughout the region – deserve to live without fear.”
Today (14 Mar), during his second day visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited and IDP shelter in Dekweneh, Beirut.
He also visited a Ghanaian peacekeeper in hospital serving with the UNIFIL mission who was injured after coming under fire during the renewed conflict in southern Lebanon.
Later in the day, he addressed the press and called on the international community to intensify support for the Government and people of Lebanon, warning that the south of the country “risks being turned into a wasteland.”
Speaking to reporters in the capital Beirut following two weeks of widespread destruction triggered by the US and Israeli bombing of Iran, António Guterres noted that Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel in support of Tehran had been followed by a “devastating” Israeli bombing campaign which is “rendering large portions of Lebanon uninhabitable.”
The Lebanese people did not choose this war. They were dragged into it,” he continued.
“The war must stop,” the UN chief said, underscoring that there is no military solution to the conflict continuing across the Middle East, only a diplomatic one in line with the UN Charter.
He acknowledged the impact on both sides of the Blue Line that separates southern Lebanon from northern Israel, which is patrolled by the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL under a Security Council mandate.
Israelis have fled to shelters in the face of Hezbollah rockets, while hundreds of Lebanese have been killed “including many children.”
Well over 800,000 have been forced to flee their homes in the southern conflict zone and areas targeted in the Hezbollah stronghold of southern Beirut, following blanket Israeli evacuation orders.
He said that he was deeply saddened by the testimonies of the displaced people that he visited in a shelter today.
He also noted that a cessation of hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel of just over a year ago, did not see an end to simmering violence, with both Hezbollah and Israeli forces violating ceasefire terms.
The UN chief paid tribute to the courage of UNIFIL peacekeepers who have come under fire in recent days: “Attacks against peacekeepers and positions are completely unacceptable and they must stop.”
Guterres praised the Lebanese Government’s historic decision last August to establish a “monopoly of arms”, adding that Hezbollah militants must abide by it and all other Security Council resolutions to hand over their weapons.
“Finally, my message to the international community is simply this: step up your engagement,” said the UN chief.
Empower the Lebanese State and support the Lebanese Armed Forces to secure the capabilities and resources they need.”
He called for countries to respond generously to the UN flash humanitarian appeal in aid of the Government-led response.
“The people of Lebanon – as well as Israel and all other peoples throughout the region – deserve to live without fear, to raise their children without the sound of sirens and strikes. To return home without wondering when they have to flee again.”
