As a result of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, 18 people were killed.

June 19, 2026 World and Security

“We are watching with great concern the reports received last night… We believe new military actions will not help anyone,” said Jens Laerke.

“Only one or two days of such combat operations lead to months, and sometimes even years, of conducting humanitarian operations on the ground,” he added.

Freedom of movement of peacekeepers

The United Nations has once again called for ensuring freedom of movement for its peacekeepers in Lebanon, who continue to closely monitor the developments in the south of the country, including in the context of the recent preliminary peace agreement concluded between the USA and Iran.

As reported to journalists by the UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers continue to monitor the situation and also provide humanitarian support to people who were forced to leave their homes due to hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants. According to him, on Thursday peacekeepers recorded 143 rocket launches: 119 from the Israeli side, the rest from Hezbollah. Earlier in the day, observers recorded 364 launches: 330 from the Israeli side and 34 from Hezbollah, as well as 38 violations of airspace.

Peacekeepers continue to monitor large-scale Israeli ground activity across the mission area of responsibility. Dujarric noted that on Wednesday in the Tyre area, two Israeli tanks blocked the movement of a UNIFIL convoy. One of the tanks aimed its gun at a peacekeeper’s vehicle, and the soldiers gestured for the column to stop, forcing the patrol to give way. Later, the convoy was allowed to proceed to its destination via an alternative route.

“We again emphasize: UN peacekeepers must have unrestricted freedom of movement throughout the entire operational zone, since they perform their duties on behalf of the Security Council,” Dujarric said.

Meanwhile, the UN Coordinator in Lebanon Imran Riza, together with the head of UNIFIL Major General Djodat Abanhar, held talks on Wednesday in Beirut with the President of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, and the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri.

“General Abanera emphasized that UNIFIL, in close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces, remains committed to fully implementing Resolution 1701, which serves as the foundation for restoring stability and security in the south of the country,” Dujarric noted.

Humanitarian situation in Lebanon

The UN spokesperson reported that on Wednesday, the UNMISS assisted in conducting nine humanitarian missions in the western sector of the operational zone.

The Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Tom Fletcher, announced the allocation of an additional 12 million dollars from the Emergency Response Fund to assist hundreds of thousands of people displaced as a result of the conflict.

“These resources will help provide access to medical care and protection against gender-based violence, as well as other essential services,” Dujarric said. “They also allow us to respond to the growing food shortage that we are observing among some of the displaced population in Lebanon.”

According to the UKGV, after the announcement of the ceasefire, almost 50 thousand people returned to their homes, however, more than 106 thousand Lebanese are still staying in collective accommodation centers across the country, and many are looking for refuge in other places. The ongoing instability, large-scale destruction, and limited access to basic services continue to hinder the return of a significant part of the population.