UN welcomes ceasefire reports in Lebanon but warns civilians still at risk after recorded violations

The United Nations said reports that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire are welcome but cautioned that the declarations have so far not produced reliable safety for civilians.

Spokesperson Steph said UNIFIL recorded multiple violations of Lebanese airspace, hundreds of projectile trajectories largely attributed to the Israeli Defense Forces and continued IDF ground activity across the mission area. "We continue to call on the parties to cease hostilities, respect existing ceasefire arrangements, and pursue dialogue as the only viable path to a long‑term security and stability on both sides of the blue line," the spokesperson said.

The briefing released operational figures: UNIFIL detected 52 airspace violations in one reported period, recorded 217 projectile trajectories in an earlier period (188 attributed to the IDF, 29 to Lebanese non‑state actors), and reported a later escalation with 748 trajectories detected in a narrower timeframe (695 attributed to the IDF and 53 to non‑state actors). The spokesperson added that many trajectories were launched from outside UNIFIL's area of operations.

On the humanitarian front, the spokesperson described UN coordination with OCHA and UNIFIL to facilitate and scale up deliveries: eight humanitarian missions in Sector West were facilitated and food parcels were distributed on June 16–17 to hundreds of displaced families in Beirut and surrounding areas. The UN warned, however, that ceasefire announcements "have yet to translate into improved safety or the ability to return home or just stay home," and that civilians continue to flee amid ongoing insecurity.

A reporter asked about reports that 50 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon; the spokesperson replied that the UN condemns and is "horrified by the killings of civilians." The briefing did not provide a new, independently verified casualty tally or identify perpetrators beyond the operational reporting already cited.

The UN's public messaging emphasized continued monitoring by UNIFIL, ongoing humanitarian deliveries and calls for parties to avoid actions that further endanger civilians. The spokesperson concluded that renewed dialogue, respect for ceasefire mechanisms and practical steps to protect civilians remain urgent.

The briefing closed with no announcement of a new UN‑led initiative to move people home or to establish new protected zones; the focus remained on monitoring, humanitarian access and diplomatic efforts to consolidate ceasefire commitments.