UN condemns April 8 strikes in Lebanon, cites hundreds killed and constrained humanitarian access

The United Nations "unequivocally condemned" the massive Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on April 8 that, according to Lebanese authorities cited by the UN, "resulted in hundreds of civilians being killed and injured," the UN spokesperson said at a press briefing.

The spokesman said Lebanese officials reported more than 200 people killed and more than 1,000 injured, with hospitals overwhelmed. He noted damage to civilian infrastructure — including the Rafic Hariri Government Hospital — and reports of air raids on Beirut's southern suburbs and destruction of the Qasmieh coastal bridge, which have further isolated areas south of the Litani River.

The briefing said displacement orders issued by Israeli authorities extended to locations that include a UNRWA office, two Palestinian refugee camps, and 13 shelters holding about 6,000 people, as well as numerous NGO offices. The spokesperson warned these orders and ongoing operations in Lebanon pose a "grave risk" to the ceasefire and to humanitarian access for roughly 106,000 people in the affected areas.

On UN peacekeeping, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed troop-contributing countries to UNIFIL and "reiterated that any intimidation or interference with the mission's activities must stop immediately," the spokesman said. He described an incident when a UN logistics convoy was blocked by an IDF Merkava tank that fired near the convoy and damaged a UNIFIL vehicle; no injuries were reported.

The Secretary-General extended his condolences to the government and people of Lebanon and called for immediate de-escalation, full respect for international humanitarian law and unimpeded humanitarian access. "There is no military solution to this conflict," the Secretary-General said in his message, the spokesman reported.

The briefing said further readouts on Jean Arnault's engagements and other diplomatic efforts will be provided as information becomes available. The UN reiterated calls for investigations into attacks affecting civilians and for perpetrators to be held to account under international humanitarian law.

The UN did not announce new operational deployments or changes to UN mandates at the briefing; officials said they would continue to monitor developments and provide updates.