This follows Israeli airstrikes in areas south of the city that targeted the leader of the armed group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed, according to media reports.
The development comes amid escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the UN-guarded separation line in southern Lebanon known as the Blue Line, after a nearly year-long war in Gaza.
Avoid endless war
The Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, issued a statement stressing that “this cycle of violence must end now, and all sides must step back from the brink.”
“The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the wider region, cannot withstand endless war,” he said.
Mr. Guterres called on the parties to recommit themselves to fully implement UN Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and return immediately to the cessation of hostilities.
Resolution 1701 was adopted in August 2006 and was intended to end the war that broke out in Lebanon that year between Israel and Hezbollah. It called for an end to hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
The Secretary-General reiterated his long-standing request immediate stoppage in Gaza again the release of all captives held enclave.
Families on the go
The attack on Beirut sparked a new wave of mass migration.
In response, the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, expanded shelter operations to support displaced families.
Emergency supplies are being distributed to more than 5,000 people, UNICEF said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Meanwhile, the number of people going to the border between Lebanon and Syria is “growing rapidly”, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
The arrivals, including women, children and the elderly, are “exhausted after walking for hours without food and water”, UNHCR said in a tweet.
Airstrikes dislodge thousands
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have forced thousands to flee their homes, including Palestinian refugees living in the country.
Border incidents have displaced 211,319 people since October 2023, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Groups of the UN organization that helps Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, are responding, said Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on Saturday on Twitter.
Trauma, uncertainty and fear
UNRWA has opened seven emergency shelters across the country that are currently hosting 1,600 people, including Lebanese citizens and Palestinian and Syrian refugees.
“Many have suffered because of the ongoing bombings, uncertainty and fear,” said Mr. Lazzarini. “For others, the trauma has been relived through repeated conflicts over the decades.”
He warned that further extension of the war would bring more suffering to the people.
Mr Lazzarini ended the tweet by stressing that citizens must be protected, and people’s infrastructure must not be targeted.
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